Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) crews, with crucial guidance from local farmers, successfully tackled a tractor fire in Sittingbourne, preventing a much larger disaster and saving a valuable grain harvest.
When a Kemsley Farms worker made a 999 call about a tractor fire on Monday, two fire engines were quickly dispatched to the scene on Vigo Lane. The fire, which was caused by a mechanical fault, was dangerously close to a large grain dryer. Thanks to the farmer’s quick thinking, the KFRS crews were able to use this vital information to their advantage.
“This fire could easily have turned into something worse if the fire service hadn’t arrived so quickly,” said farm owner Ian Kemsley. “The tractor is a loss, but if the grain dryer had gone up — that would have been a huge fire, at a serious financial cost to the farm and all the grain lost.”
Mr Kemsley explained that he was able to advise the crews about the hazard over the phone, and they used that information to contain the blaze to the tractor, using hose reel jets and firefighting foam. While the tractor was destroyed, the grain dryer sustained minimal damage, and no one was injured.
Station Leader Neil Ryder of KFRS praised the collaboration, stating, “The information from Ian and his staff was extremely helpful in keeping us in the loop on the safety hazards for both farm staff and firefighters. We’re a team when keeping Kent safe from fire in rural areas, and the essential information we received made a massive difference in tackling this one.”
Ian Kemsley echoed this sentiment, adding, “Rural businesses like ours are always at risk of fire and the consequences at times can be terrible, so it was brilliant to be able to work together with Kent Fire and Rescue and prevent further damage during this exceptionally busy harvest.”