MAJOR investigations have been launched into the cause of two serious fires which broke out just a day apart - but there has been no suggestion the two blazes are connected.
Worcestershire was hit by two large fires in a hay barn in Himbleton on Friday and at Bury End Farm in Upton on Saturday.
No suggestion has been made public that the two fires are linked or a time frame given by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for the duration of the investigations.
During the barn fire at a farm in Himbleton near Worcester, smoke and fire was visible from the main road as teams of firefighters worked around the clock to extinguish the blaze.
Police were also at the scene, supporting the fire service while firefighters in full protective equipment and high vis jackets could be seen spraying water on the fire which reached up to the roof of the structure.
A spokesperson for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said two crews from Bromsgrove and one each from Droitwich, Redditch and Worcester Fire Stations plus the water carrier from Evesham, the incident command unit from Ledbury and the welfare vehicle from Tenbury Wells attended the fire.
The 999 call was received at 4.34am on Friday to an agricultural building fire in Himbleton and by 9am the fire was still raging.
A spokesperson said on Friday morning: "The fire involves a barn, around 30m by 10m, 50 per cent full of hay.
"The incident has been sectorised with the fire being fought using three main jets. The incident is ongoing but good progress is being made and it is expected to be scaled down within the next hour."
Firefighters also battled a large blaze on Bury End Farm, off Bury End Lane in Upton, from 5.30am on Saturday. The farm had rented out multiple units for businesses - most of which have been destroyed.
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Simon Cusack, group commander of HWFR, said the fire is significant in size, but crews managed to get it under control.
He added: "At around 5.30am, we received multiple calls from the local community alerting us to a large industrial fire.
"It was in a unit of around 60 by 40 square meters - quite a significant size.
"We mobilised three fire engines initially - the first arriving in six minutes.
"They alerted us to the severity of the fire, and we sent four more engines."
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