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Crews tackle large corn field fire in Upstreet, near Canterbury

15:37, 03 August 2018

updated: 20:33, 03 August 2018

A field fire has destroyed an area equivalent to about 10 full-size football pitches.

Five fire engines were sent to the scene where standing corn was alight near Island Road, Upstreet, at about 1.45pm.

Crews managed to surround the fire and extinguish it by about 3.50pm.

Five fire engines were sent to the scene. Picture: David Hunt
Five fire engines were sent to the scene. Picture: David Hunt

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Five fire engines were sent to the fire and crews worked hard to contain the fire in very hot conditions.

"They managed to surround the fire and extinguished the fire using hose reel jets and flexi packs and beaters.

"Around eight hectares of standing corn (the equivalent of 10 full size football pitches) was destroyed by the blaze.

"There were no reported injuries."

Fire engines at the scene. Picture: Paul Letham
Fire engines at the scene. Picture: Paul Letham

Meanwhile, crews have also tackled a field fire covering about 150 sq m of grassland near Alder Way, Swanley.

They were called at 2.30pm and had extinguished the fire within an hour.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire isn't known at this stage.

Firefighters were also sent to a large field blaze involving cut corn on the Eynsford Road in Crockenhill, near Swanley.

Four fire engines were sent to the scene after the call at 4.17pm.

One square mile of corn was destroyed in the blaze.

Crews used beaters, four hose reels and an on-sight water bowser. Cultivators were used to create fire breaks.

The fire was extinguished just before 6pm.

Elsewhere, about 100 acres of cut straw was alight in Eastchurch, Sheppey.

Fire crews were on site to make sure the blaze remained under control.

They left the scene at about 7.40pm.

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