Firefighters called to grain dryer fire in Great Braxted

Crews were called to a farm in Great Braxted at 10.38am where a grain dryer - holding about 20 tonnes of maize - was on fire.

Due to difficult access to water, the crews on the scene from Witham and Colchester requested a water bowser from Halstead Fire Station as well as two additional crews from Maldon and Great Baddow to assist with shuttling water to the scene.

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An aerial ladder platform was used. Photo: Essex Fire and Rescue Service

Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to tackle the fire from above while firefighters from Essex Fire and Rescue Service's urban search and rescue team cut away at the dryer to expose the fire.

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While using the aerial ladder platform to tackle the fire from above and to inspect surrounding risks, crews worked to remove the grain from the dryer to extinguish the fire in sections.

Crews cut away at the dryer to expose the fire. Photo: Essex Fire and Rescue Service

Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 5.20pm and remained at the scene to monitor hotspots.

Crews from Great Baddow, Halstead, Maldon and Witham Fire Stations are on-call firefighters who all live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station and are paid to attend incidents.

Firefighters stayed at the scene to monitor hotspots. Photo: Essex Fire and Rescue Service

If you live or work within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station, you could be an on-call firefighter and be paid to protect your community.

Find out more about the role at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call.