Barn storing gas cylinders and charity goods destroyed in huge blaze
The barn fire in Sea Palling Road, Ingham today. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
A huge fire at a barn could be seen for miles around.
The barn fire in Sea Palling Road, Ingham today. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
About 25 firefighters tackled the blaze and managed to stop it spreading to a nearby house.
Crews were called to Sea Palling Road, Ingham at about 11.40am on Saturday, May 5 to reports of an agricultural building, around 32ft by 22ft in size, on fire.
The house, barn and surrounding land are owned by Paul and Cynthia Meale who were not there at the time.
Emry Gough, station manager, said: 'When we arrived we found a significant, well-developed fire, which could be seen for miles around.
The barn is owned by Cynthia Meale, pictured today at Jimmy Tooley's in Stalham,, and husband Paul. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
'We had five appliances initially. There was a concern that the fire was going to spread to a domestic property close by. There were also a significant number of propane and bupane gas cylinders - about seven in total - in the building, plus asbestos.
'The barn was used to store furniture and there was significant loss and damage.
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'We used defensive tactics to fight the fire, which means we did it from a distance. We used monitors and jets.'
Fire crews returned to the scene later on Saturday. The cause of the blaze is not yet known.
Norfolk police and the East of England Ambulance Service also attended, as per standard procedure, plus the Environment Agency.
The alarm was raised by family friend Graham Cogman who was driving by. He said: 'I saw big black smoke and called the fire brigade and tried to get some items away from the blaze.'
The barn contained furniture and other items too large to be taken to Jimmy Tooley's fundraising charity shop in Stalham High Street, where funds for Stalham Youth Club, which is run by Mr Meale, are raised.
Mr Meale's wife Cynthia said: 'We had a visitor to the shop who said our barn was on fire, which came out of the blue. I don't know how much the stock would have been worth.'
Meanwhile, three fire crews quickly dealt with a blaze at a flat in Thurston Road, Lowestoft, at around 6pm on Friday, May 4.
