10,000 tonnes of hay on fire at ammonium nitrate barn blaze

Dec 06, 2023

Firefighters found 13 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at a barn fire that broke out this morning.

At around 11am today (June 7), six fire engines were rushed to Crosse Hall Lane in Chorley following reports of a barn fire.

When crews arrived, they found 10,000 tonnes of hay was well alight which had spread to the rest of the building.

Firefighters also found 13 tonnes of ammonium nitrate packed in the building.

Crews have been at the scene since 11am and are expected to remain on site until around 4pm.

SM Cooper incident commander, said: "The incident was made up to six appliances. The crews did a really good job using aggressive firefighting tactics and put a block on the fire and stopped the fire travelling through the barn.

"The fire is now essentially surrounded and we’re quite confident that there's no more further risk. We will however be at this incident for a further two hours damping down.

"The smoke plume has been knocked back considerably since we’ve been here. However, if you can smell smoke in your area, please close your doors and windows and stay safe."

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "At 11.06am on June 7, 2023, six fire engines and a water bowser from Leyland, as well as the stinger from Blackburn attended a fire on Crosse Hall Lane, Chorley.

"The fire involved a barn containing approximately 100 round rolled hay bales and 2000 tonnes of silage.

"Fire crews are using one hose reel, four breathing apparatus, two main jets and a ground monitor to extinguish the fire.

"Crews are now damping down and fire appliances have been reduced to five fire engines. Two hose reel jets and one hose reel are still in use. The fire is under control."