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Claverham residents evacuated as firefighters tackle farm blaze Claverham residents return to houses after barn fire controlled
(about 5 hours later)
Farm fire leads to chemicals warning A barn fire continues to burn, but is now controlled after reports of the fire were made at around 21:20 on Saturday
About 20 people have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters work to tackle a large blaze at a farm. Residents have returned home with the lifting of an 800m (2,624 feet) cordon after being evacuated from properties in the early hours of Sunday after a large barn fire broke out in Somerset.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service first responded to reports of a barn fire at Chestnut Farm in Streamcross on the outskirts of Claverham, Somerset, just before 21:20 BST on Saturday. Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called to Chestnut Farm in Streamcross, on the outskirts of Claverham, just before 21:20 BST on Saturday.
Fire crews remain at the scene while Avon and Somerset Police officers are manning road closures in the area. About 12 fire appliances and 50 firefighters attended, alongside a police helicopter and other agencies, with more teams collaborating off site.
Residents living nearby are being urged to stay inside and keep doors and windows closed as the fire service has warned the smoke "may contain hazardous chemicals". Avon Fire and Rescue Service area manager Vaughan Jenkins said three fire crews remained at the site and the controlled fire was "still burning" but "we're in a much stronger place than we have been through the night".
Residents have been advised to stay indoors as a precaution against smoke which "may contain hazardous chemicals" Residents are advised to remain indoors as a precaution against smoke which "may contain hazardous chemicals"
The incident is ongoing but no injuries have been reported, police added. Mr Jenkins said a decision to put in the exclusion zone was "unfortunate but necessary", and made with advice from a scientific expert due to fertiliser being stored on the site.
North Somerset Council has set up an emergency rest centre in Yatton for the people who have had to leave their homes. He said: "We have a duty of care to our staff. There wasn't any life risk and we set up relevant water towers and used our equipment while working remotely and made sure members of the public and local residents were in that place of safety."
Avon and Somerset Police has told anyone living with the evacuation cordon who experiences health issues to call 999. He also said it had been very emotive for people being knocked awake by a fire or police officer in the middle of the night and being asked to move, and "we wouldn't have taken that decision if it wasn't absolutely necessary to keep people safe".
Staff from South Western Ambulance Service are at the scene as part of "well rehearsed multi-agency plans", the force added. Roads have reopened and the cordon lifted in the Somerset village
The emergency operation is ongoing in the Somerset village Any explosion risk had been dealt with after cooling the chemicals and "we're currently allowing the hay bales to burn out while protecting the ammonium nitrate and ensuring it doesn't spread to any other building in the farm complex," Mr Jenkins said.
People within the original cordon zone have still been advised to stay indoors doors and keep their windows shut. But, as things continued, the fire service should be in a position to lift those restrictions through the day, he added.
The fire service said anyone within the cordon or living nearby who experienced a change in their health or any existing conditions should seek medical assistance.
An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Three fire vehicles remain on site as the controlled fire burns
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