Spate of arson attacks on Humberside farms may be linked
Library photo © Rex Shutterstock Farmers in Humberside are being warned to store bales of hay and straw away from public roads following a spate of fires.
Fire crews have been called to suspected arson attacks in Octon and Flamborough in East Riding and Foxholes just over the border in North Yorkshire.
Fifteen firefighters tackled a large haystack fire near Flamborough at around 2.45am on Saturday (26 September).
See also: Police hunt arsonists after fire kills 360 pigs on Yorkshire farm
Two crews dealt with a haystack fire, 20m x 10m, in Skipper Lane, Octon, on Sunday (27 September).
The farmer created a fire break by ploughing a field around the stack. Fire beaters were used to stop the flames spreading to nearby hedgerow.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to a similar incident in Foxholes.
Steve Duffield, community safety manager at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This is not an isolated incident at this time of year.
“As hay is harvested and straw stored, we urge farmers across the region take steps to ensure straw is stored safety to reduce the risk of deliberate fires.”
Humberside Police said they were treating the fires as arson.
Julie Turrell, rural crime officer, Humberside Police, added: “Why someone would deliberately set fire to a store of straw is difficult to comprehend.
“Taking precautions to prevent such incidents is one of the key factors in avoiding becoming a victim of such a crime.”
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has urged farmers to take these precautions to reduce the risk of arson:
• Ensure the site where bales are stored is as secure as possible
• Hay and straw should be removed from fields as soon as possible after harvesting, stored away from other buildings, in stacks of reasonable size, spaced at least 10m apart
• Store away from livestock
• Store away from the road if possible so as not to be an easy target to anyone passing
• Petrol, diesel and other fuels should be stored in secure areas; storage tank outlets should be padlocked
• Fertilisers and pesticides should be kept under lock and key
• Rubbish should be disposed of safely and on a regular basis
• Electrical safety checks should be carried out and firefighting equipment should be check frequently
• Prepare a fire routine and action plan to ensure all farm workers know what to do in the event of a fire
• Ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished in an appropriate container
• Where possible, regularly check and maintain open water supplies for firefighting
Anyone with any information about these incidents should call Humberside Police on the non-emergency 101 number.