HIGH HALDEN, ASHFORD — A major operation is underway in Kent this evening as emergency services battle a fierce blaze involving multiple agricultural storage units.
Six fire engines, alongside an array of specialist support vehicles, were rushed to the scene on Plurenden Lane just after 5:00pm. Kent Fire and Rescue Service deployed a bulk water carrier, an all-terrain vehicle, and a command support unit to manage the rapidly evolving incident. Crews wearing breathing apparatus have been working tirelessly in grueling conditions, utilising high-pressure main hose jets to bring the flames under control.
At the height of the emergency, a thick plume of smoke billowed across the area, prompting official warnings for local residents in High Halden to close all windows and doors. Members of the community were also urged to check on vulnerable neighbours and loved ones who might not have access to online emergency updates.
UPDATE: 8:50pm
Firefighters have made significant progress in tackling the agricultural blaze, allowing the emergency response to be scaled down to just two fire engines.
The heavy smoke has now subsided, and fire officials have confirmed that the earlier safety advice for residents to keep their windows and doors closed is no longer in place. Thankfully, there are no reported injuries, though emergency crews remain on-site to damp down the wreckage. An investigation into the cause of the fire will begin once the site is fully cooled, as the origin of the blaze remains unknown.