A fire has ripped through a fruit farm and processing facility in Sussex burning down a barn, a pack house and a store room full of fruit.
Firefighters were called to Brambletye Fruit Farm, near Forest Row in East Sussex, at around 7pm last night, and left the scene at 2am. One engine stayed overnight to monitor the area.
Seven fire engines attended the incident but owner of the farm Stein Leenders said that “everything has gone”.
He said: “We believe it was started through the generator, but will know more by the end of the day.”
Leenders said the insurance is now dealing with it. Support from wellwishers is starting to be posted on the farm's Facebook page.
When firefighters arrived several large fridges were on fire as well as a 2,000 litre fuel tank.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue service said that they had received a call that a diesel tank had exploded and there were crops, vehicles, cylinders and chemicals in the barn.
The Environment Agency was informed due to the fuel spill. No one was injured and the blaze was prevented from spreading to a nearby house.
Watch commander for East Grinstead fire service Gary Waters said an investigation into the fire at Brambletye Fruit Farm started this morning.
Local news website, This is Sussex, reported that firefighters were forced to run with buckets of water between the River Medway and the blaze as there was no appliance for them to source water from.
The fire service is now calling on farmers to check their safety measures as this was the second barn fire to happen yesterday in the Sussex region.
Brambletye Fruit Farm is run by five farmers who grow apples, pears, blackberries, redcurrants and gooseberries using biodynamic techniques. It produces apple juice and sells produce at farmers’ markets.
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