Wallington Farms hosted four farm familiarisation sessions at Bygrave Lodge Farm near Baldock after an approach from NFU County Adviser Josh Redford.
Crews from were shown around the farm, finding out all about day-to-day farm operations, potential hazards and the resources available to help fight fires.
Farm Manager Tom Macfarlane said: 鈥淭he aim was to get the crews familiar with a farmyard setting. Many of them hadn鈥檛 attended a call out on a farm before, so it鈥檚 an alien environment to them.
鈥淚f and when they do go to a farm in future they will know more about it, the equipment we store here, the hazards and the resources that can help.
鈥淥ur setting is similar to many farms around here, so this should help all farmers when incidents occur.鈥�
The sessions were arranged as part of the ongoing partnership work between the fire and rescue service, the NFU and local farmers.
Tom said: 鈥淭here were four sessions in total, although the third visit was curtailed because of an emergency call. I did the intro and then everyone left!鈥�
During the sessions, crews looked at the main potential fire hazards, including the grain processing unit and dryers, the workshop, diesel storage, oxyacetylene and the chemical store.
They also looked at available water resources on the farm, including water bowsers and static water supplies. Details of these have been uploaded to the fire and rescue service database so they can be utilised if a fire occurs.
鈥淭hey brought the aerial platform, which worked well, putting it up around our dryer, and taking some of us up as well,鈥� said Tom.
鈥淲e also looked at a combine, opening panels and showing them where fires could start and how quickly they could spread.
鈥淲e have our own water bowser that will be close by when combining. Everything will have fire extinguishers on as well. It鈥檚 just being extra careful, especially when it鈥檚 so hot and dry.鈥�
We had a really useful discussion as the fire crews went around. No question was a silly question 鈥� it was great for them to look around and find out what we do and why we are so busy over a short period of time during harvest.
鈥淥ne thing that came out of it is we are going to get a grab pack that can go at the farm entrances, listing all the hazards such as chemical store, and diesel store, anything relevant to the fire service, plus contact details and water points.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to let them check it and then keep it on hand, in case they had to arrive and no one was around.鈥�
Clive Robinson is Station Commander for Stevenage and Royston fire stations. He said the sessions had been extremely useful.
鈥淭hey provided a valuable insight into the type of incidents crews may attend on farms and it was great to have the opportunity to see the processes, buildings and hazards involved,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t was also really useful to look around the combine and to know that in the coming weeks, during harvest, that there would be a bowser nearby when it is operating.
鈥淭hese sessions were another great example of the improved awareness between fire crews and local farmers.鈥�
- Photos by Perry Johnson of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service