Hay bale blaze closes road

8:04am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Wantage/Grove Photograph of the Author By Katriona Ormiston, Reporter. Call me on (01865) 425426

The blaze last night, submitted by reader Leanne Aspinall-Wade The blaze last night, submitted by reader Leanne Aspinall-Wade

A LARGE hay bale fire has shut Hanney Road in Steventon.

Around 800 bales of hay caught fire yesterday evening and are likely to take a few days to burn out.

The road is closed both ways between the B4017 Abingdon Road and Steventon Road junction.

Comments(12)

## Nonny Mouse ## says...
9:31am Wed 19 Dec 12

If they're the ones i think they are, then it's straw, not hay. 2012 was a particularly meager year for hay, so the price per bale is high. They would be more likely stolen than torched.

Which brings us onto 'How did a stack of cold and damp bales mysteriously burst into flames?' - Typical gypo stunt, this.

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Budowaah says...
11:08am Wed 19 Dec 12

I always thought it would be epic to drive straight in to it, actually.

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
11:21am Wed 19 Dec 12

It wouldn't be very 'hollywood'. You'd stop in a crumpled mess rather quickly. They tend to toughen under compression.

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Ceasar says...
12:09pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Any Hare Coursers been seen off by the Farmer in the last couple of days ?

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McDave says...
12:14pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Depending upon the size of the bale, there is a lot of pressure in the centre. I remeber reading/seeing somewhere that under the right conditions an extreme amount of heat can build up.

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Budowaah says...
2:18pm Wed 19 Dec 12

## Nonny Mouse ## wrote:
It wouldn't be very 'hollywood'. You'd stop in a crumpled mess rather quickly. They tend to toughen under compression.
Yea, I guess. Bet they're heavy too.

McDave; you raise a good point, but surely it's too cold at the moment and the 'right conditions' would be height of summer, perhaps?

Who knows, I guess they'll know if it was arson. Gasoline residue, etc.

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McDave says...
2:44pm Wed 19 Dec 12

I doubt much dampness got into the middle of the bale else what good would a thatched roof be?

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parvinder msvarency says...
4:21pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Anyone with a knowledge of farming will know that in these conditions that a fire of this magnitude could not start without some kind of accelerator. Wet Hay/Straw does not suddenly catch fire and hold without some help. Arson.

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Scallass n says...
4:38pm Wed 19 Dec 12

It was very high I pass it regularly!! I always said summat would happen but thought coz they so high they'd fall over!! Could not have been started by accident

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morgz84 says...
5:50pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Apparently police have arrested a suspect. He has been released on bale.

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Mark L. says...
8:35am Thu 20 Dec 12

parvinder msvarency wrote:
Anyone with a knowledge of farming will know that in these conditions that a fire of this magnitude could not start without some kind of accelerator. Wet Hay/Straw does not suddenly catch fire and hold without some help. Arson.
Hay and Straw bales are tightly compressed. The centre of the bales never get wet or damp. Bacteria builds up over time. Heat builds up and the bales can self ignite. It's a known phenomenom in farming circles. one of my work colleagues was raised on a Farm and another owns a Farm

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Feelingsmatter says...
6:38pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Hanney Road's open now, not that any of the radio stations have cottoned on.
(Still laughing at morg's comment!)

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