Barn blaze sparked by furnace, says fire service

A blaze at a farm that spread across several barns was accidentally caused by a furnace, the fire service said.

More than half a dozen fire engines were sent to Cherry Tree Farm in Metfield, Suffolk, close to the Norfolk border, at about 01:45 BST on Friday.

The buildings contained straw bales, farm machinery and several acetylene cylinders.

Crews remained at the site over the weekend and the fire service it would be reinspecting the barns later to ensure there was no risk of reignition.

"A fire investigation has been carried out and the cause established – it was an accidental fire caused by a furnace," a spokesperson for the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire service said on Friday the blaze had "escalated quickly" and eight engines had been at the scene.

The spokesperson added it had been a "large and complex incident involving significant hazards".

The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was also at the farm.

To manage the fire, the area was divided into four sectors. Crews used hose reels, a water monitor, and an aerial ladder platform.

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