Initial response: Four fire engines from Chester, Ellesmere Port, Birchwood and Powey Lane, plus one of our weekday fire engines.
Additional appliances sent to the incident:
The second fire engine from Chester and the water bowser from Crewe plus the aerial ladder platform from Lymm.
Three fire engines from Northwich, Lymm and Nantwich were sent to relieve other crews from the incident.
Further relief crews through the night included the second crew from Lymm, plus four fire engines from Frodsham, Penketh, Malpas and Winsford.
All crews listed above are believed to have been released at various times throughout the night. As of 08:30 on 12/07, we have two fire engines from Middlewich and Congleton in attendance. Resources will continue to be reassigned as necessary.
As of 10:45, Middlewich had been released from the incident, and a weekday crew, plus a fire engine from Penketh and the aerial ladder platform from Lymm, had returned.
Details
Fire crews are currently tackling a large fire inside a barn containing hay, measuring around 100 by 50 metres.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to fight the fire, which is well alight.
All livestock and machinery are believed to have been accounted for and moved away from the area.
UPDATE 13:52 | The incident commander has now established three sectors around the building to tackle the fire. A manager for each sector is leading crews of firefighters to tackle the blaze.
UPDATE 15:15: The aerial ladder platform is being set up and will be used to get water onto the building from above. Crews on the ground are making good progress extinguishing the fire and a water bowser is in use, transporting water to the scene. Any water running from the building is being managed and contained.
UPDATE 20:00 Fire crews have been working with the farmer to remove unaffected hay from the barn. The aerial ladder platform was still in use over the last hour, dampening down from above. Firefighters are still dampening hot spots with hose reel jets. Ground monitors and thermal imaging cameras are in use to monitor the situation closely.
UPDATE 12/07/2025 08:30
Relief crews from Middlewich and Congleton are in attendance this morning, continuing to monitor the area with thermal imaging cameras and ground monitors. Firefighters have been damping down throughout the night, with crews from many stations coming to relieve one another (see the attendance section above for the names of stations that have been at this incident).
UPDATE 12/07/2025 10:45
Middlewich has been released from this incident. The aerial ladder platform from Lymm has returned, along with one of our weekday crews and a fire engine from Penketh. The road closure on Hob Lane remains, and access is strictly for residents only. The situation will continue to be monitored throughout the day by firefighters.
No further updates will be added until the incident is closed or if there is a significant change in the situation.
