Huge barn fire in north Cornwall expected to burn for some time, crews say
At its height, the blaze at Lewannick was "very visible" from the A30
Last updated 29th Aug 2022
Crews from across the Duchy and Devon have spent the night battling a major fire in north Cornwall, which was still burning hours later.
The blaze tore through a barn at Lewannick and is so fierce, it could be seen from the A30.
Firefighters from Launceston and Callington rushed to the scene after multiple 999 calls.
Back-up was called from Bodmin, Liskeard, Okehampton, Delabole, St Mawes and St Austell.
On Sunday morning (28th August), Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said they expected the fire to burn for some time.
They confirmed crews from St Dennis, Fowey, Looe and Wadebridge had also been sent to the scene and, by Monday morning, one team remained on scene monitoring hotspots.
In a statement shortly after midnight, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 0004hrs our Critical Control Centre took multiple calls reporting a fire in the Lewannick area.
"Due to the number of calls and reports of it being a large building crews from Launceston and Callington were immediately mobilised alongside a wholetime officer.
"Whilst en route to incident, the incident commander from Launceston requested two further appliances. These were mobilised from Bodmin.
"Our Critical Control Centre assess the area in which the incident was and took the decision to mobilise a water carrier from Liskeard to support the incident.
"At 0030hrs the incident commander reported a 100m x 50m barn which was well alight. A request for two additional appliances was made and these were mobilised from Okehampton and Delabole.
"Additional supporting appliances from Launceston (Incident Command Unit), St Mawes (Welfare Unit) and St Austell (Operational Support Vehicle) are also in attendance.
Shortly before 6am on Sunday, they said: "The incident is still ongoing however scaling back to three appliances. The fire involves a large amount of baled straw and will burn for some time.
"The fire can still be seen from the A30 Launceston and Polyphant".
At 7.45am Cornwall FRS said: "Appliances from St Dennis, Fowey and Looe along with a water carrier from Wadebridge remain in attendance.
"The fire is still very visible from the A30 but rest assured we are on scene and dealing with this incident".
By 1pm on Sunday, appliances from Bodmin, Launceston and Callington, along with a water carrier from Wadebridge, were still at the scene.
At 3.30pm, Cornwall FRS said: "Appliances from Launceston and Callington, along with a water carrier from Wadebridge, remain on scene at this time. Steady progress is being made. Three main jets are in use to prevent further escalation".
Shortly before 9pm, they added: "Two fire appliances and the Water Carrier are still in attendance at the barn and will remain so overnight. Good progress being made, however the fire is still visible from the main roads surrounding it and Critical Control are still receiving multiple repeat calls for this incident".
The latest update, at 6.30am on Monday 29th August, states: "One appliance is remaining on scene monitoring hotspots. A fire investigation will take place today when its safe to do so".
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is releasing regular updates and those will appear below.