Quick-thinking firefighters prevented a major blaze at a Wakefield farm building.
Fire crews from nine fire stations across West Yorkshire were called to Hollingthorpe Hall Farm, in Hall Green, Wakefield after a fire broke out in an old pig shed at around 6am yesterday.
The building was not being used to house animals, but was instead used to store large quantities of pig feed.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s area manager Ian Bitcon said oil from the feed had separated to the top of storage containers, meaning around 3,000 litres of oil was involved in the fire.
He said: “One container was leaking, meaning there was essentially a running fuel fire in the shed. Fortunately the fire crews did really well and contained it to a fairly small fire.”
Around 10 tonnes of plastic are also believed to have been involved in the blaze.
Firefighters from Wakefield, Ossett, Dewsbury, Normanton and Barnsley stations worked with specialist crews from Hunslet, Garforth, Mirfield and Batley stations to bring the flames under control.
Specialists were called because firefighters who were first on the scene believed the shed may contain a dangerous acetylene cylinder.
It was later found to be pressurised oxygen tank, which carries a much lower risk of explosion.
Mr Bitcon said a number of people working on the farm in adjoining buildings were moved to safe areas and no animals housed in the vicinity were harmed in the fire.
He added: “The building is still useable. Because the fire has destroyed one of the walls, it’s allowed the flames to escape which has prevented major damage.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not thought to be suspicious at this stage.
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