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Combine harvester causes large farmland blaze

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service A firefighter in a field holding a hose with the sun setting, along with a burnt field and a combine harvester on fire. Trees are in the distance. Smoke is billowing up from the machinery. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Crews from Gamlingay, Cambridge, Cambourne, Cottenham and Royston attended the scene on Friday night

A blaze that started in a combine harvester spread to five acres of farmland, a fire service said.

About 20 firefighters were called to the "well-developed" blaze in Meldreth, south Cambridgeshire, at about 20:00 BST on Friday.

The county's fire service said: "Crews worked hard and got the fire under control and extinguished, before returning to their stations by about 23:30."

It confirmed the cause was accidental.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service A large field that has been burnt with a combine harvester on fire, with two firefighters to the left. Trees are in the distance, and a setting sun. Smoke is billowing up from the combine harvester.Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
The sun was setting as crews dampened down the blaze

It comes as farmers across Cambridgeshire have been urged by the service to take extra precautions as hot weather continues and the risk of fires increases.

The warning comes after Peterborough farmer Judith Jacob said her wheat crops were targeted in six suspected arson attacks last month.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service The blackened remnants of a combine harvester surrounded by a burned field. One firefighter is hosing the machinery down, and in the distance is a fire engine surrounded by peopleCambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire was put out by nightfall

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