Over 300 sheep have been saved from a barn fire in south Milton, Kingsbridge, Devon, and a man present received oxygen therapy following smoke inhalation and was conveyed to hospital as a precaution.
The sheep were released from the barn to a field for safety, Devon and Somerset’s fire and rescue service said, and were looked over by a local vet.
The rescue service confirmed that the fire, which broke out on Monday (March 6), involved hay and straw in a single-storey barn.
It estimates that 50% of the straw and bedding in the barn was damaged by fire.
The team received the call just before 1:30p.m on Monday and mobilised two fire engines from Salcombe and Ivybridge, one water bowser from Plympton and two supporting officers once it received the call.
Due to gaining information from original caller and travel times to the incident, the team said, a third appliance from Totnes was mobilised.
Just before 2:30p.m, fire crews sent an assistance message to control of make pumps six for breathing apparatus.
This mobilised a further three fire appliances from Greenbank, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, one incident command unit from Honiton, one welfare unit from Crediton and a further three supporting officers.
By 3:00p.m, all sheep had been removed from the barn and the fire was under control. The cause of the fire was confirmed as accidental.
