Barn fire leads to fire service smoke warning

The fire service issued a warning to residents in a village close to Swanage, Dorset, last week, to ensure that their doors and windows were kept closed for a time, following a huge barn fire which was emitting quite a large volume of smoke.

Despite the advice given to wait for the smoke to clear, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service moved quickly to allay fears that there was also asbestos contamination to worry about.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at Coombe Farm at Coombe Hill, near Langton Matravers, around 6pm last Tuesday evening to find that the flames in the barn were reaching around nine metres in height.

The barn was destroyed in the fire, and as it was made from asbestos sheeting, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service issued the following statement through their spokesperson:

“It must be stressed that any asbestos released would be of an insignificant amount.

“It is advised that if you live within the vicinity of this incident, and you smell smoke outside your property, close all windows and doors, and remain inside.

“This is purely a precautionary measure.”

The barn fire eventually burned itself out, though the fire crews from Swanage and Poole remained at the scene during the night.