Halstead: Fire crews called to straw bale blazes (From Gazette)

Halstead: Fire crews called to straw bale blazes

9:31am Sunday 19th August 2012 in News

An investigation will not be launched into the cause of two straw bale fires.

Two fire crews from Halstead were called to a field off Stisted Road, Halstead, shortly after midnight, in the early hours of this morning.

Some 17 tonnes of bailed straw was alight.

A farmer used his tractor to spread the straw while crews used hoses to extinguish the flames, extinguishing the blaze by 1.50am.

Just over an hour and a half after the initial call, crews from Coggeshall and Colchester were also called to a field off the B1024, Coggeshall Road, in Earls Colne, following reports six tonnes of bailed straw was alight.

The second fire was out by about 3.15am.

Despite the timings and close proximity of the two fires, a spokeman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said they were not being linked and neither would be investigated.

The cause of the fires is unknown.