Animals unable to escape barn blaze

LIVESTOCK died when a large barn in Route De St Andre caught fire yesterday.

The barn was soon well alight. (Picture by supplied by Nicky Will)

The fire was fanned by strong winds.

Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service were called at 2.30pm by neighbour Nicky Will.

‘They came really quickly,’ Mrs Will said.

Firefighters damp down after tackling a fire in a large shed yesterday afternoon in which animals died. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 29478457)

‘My brother, mum and dad live next door and I was the only one in. I was gardening and saw the smoke and thought “that’s a bit odd”.

‘I walked up there and saw the flames and that no one was there. I feel very sorry for the owners.’

GFRS station officer Gary Van Der Linden said: ‘We were called to a large shed fire. A water tender, light striker and tanker were deployed on scene. We have a turntable [ladder] on stand-by.’

Firefighters used breathing apparatus to tackle the fire. (29478461)

Nine firefighters attended, and used three jets. One crew had six sets of breathing apparatus in use.

‘When they arrived to tend to the converted greenhouse/shed it was well alight. Flames had already spread very quickly due to winds and because of bedding materials.’

Firefighters had to stay for a while to ensure it was all dampened down.

‘We had to call crews to manage the fire station because we are all busy here.’

The shed had been converted from a greenhouse. (29478467)

Guernsey Police closed the road from the filter by St Andrew’s Church to the junction to Candie Road.

Police incident commander PC 76 Lewis said: ‘Essentially we were called to assist with a large structure fire. Fire were here first and quickly got it under control, but a number of livestock perished in the fire. It is very, very sad.’