SUNDOWN PRODUCTS has sought to reassure its customers that supply will not be affected following a farm fire on 31 August.
Fire crews attended a straw stack in a field just off the A14 near Thrapston, Northamptonshire, after smoke was seen from the main road.
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The stack contained around 600 large straw bales and weighed around 300 tonnes, the firm said.
Sundown’s baling team completed the stack on Saturday, 28 August, and it had been due to be moved within the next few days due to its prominent location and proximity to local footpaths.
The stack of 600 bales represents around one and a half to two days worth of production at Sundown’s manufacturing facility.
‘Upsetting’
David Cubitt, director at Sundown Products, said: “A straw stack fire is always very upsetting, and even though the straw was insured, it’s so frustrating for our team who have worked so hard this harvest to bale our straw from local farmers.
“We are grateful that nobody was hurt and extend our thanks to those that reported the fire and the Thrapston, Kettering and Rushden fire crews that worked quickly to extinguish it and prevent the fire from spreading. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
“Although it looked like a large stack, it was quite a small amount of bales for our production facility.
“Our customers can be reassured that supplies of our poultry bedding products are unaffected and bedding deliveries are continuing as normal.”
‘Contain the spread’
A Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a straw fire at a farm just south of the A14 near Thrapston at 7.20 am today.
“Crews from Thrapston, Kettering and Rushden all attended and helped to contain the spread of fire and dampen down the scene.
“Cause is being investigated.”
