Hundreds of turkeys rescued from fire (From Daily Echo)

Hundreds of turkeys rescued from fire on farm near Petersfield

2:50pm Wednesday 19th December 2012 in News

Over 200 turkeys have been saved from an early Christmas roasting after firefighters rescued them from a blaze on a Hampshire farm.

The birds were helped to safety as firefighters battled the fire this morning at a workshop at a farm in Colemore, near Petersfield.

Around 250 of the birds were moved from the shed after fire spread to the structure from the workshop ablaze next door.

Fire crews were initially called to deal with the fire in the workshop on the farm at 6.58am. They worked quickly to contain the flames and restrict the spread to the surrounding buildings.

The 25m x 25m timber workshop was completely destroyed by the fire, while the turkey shed suffered only slight damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Group Manager Brian Rudman said: "The fire appears to have started in the workshop, which was flanked by other buildings.

"Our crews did extremely well in stopping the fire spreading to the other buildings.

"Our animal rescue specialist and firefighters helped assist the farm hands in herding the turkeys to a safe building and all the birds survived."

Crews from Alton, Petersfield, Alresford, Bordon, Basingstoke and Eastleigh extinguished the blaze using 12 sets of breathing apparatus, two main jets, two compressed foam jets and one hose reel. The fire was out by 10:12.

A farm vehicle was also completely destroyed by the fire.