Firefighters Battle Massive 12,000-Tonne Hay Fire at Former RAF Wigsley

Firefighters are battling a significant blaze at the former RAF Wigsley airfield in Nottinghamshire, where approximately 12,000 tonnes of hay bales and standing corn are on fire. Around 10 fire engines and multiple rural firefighting vehicles were initially deployed, with the number of engines reduced to three as crews focus on creating fire breaks to fully extinguish the fire. Due to the scale of the blaze and dry weather conditions, crews are expected to remain on scene for several days, potentially up to a week or longer, while also working to determine the cause. Fire authorities have urged people to avoid the area and advised residents who can see or smell smoke to keep windows and doors closed. The fire at RAF Wigsley, a site with historical buildings from its World War II operational period, is a major incident requiring sustained firefighting efforts. In a separate incident, six fire crews contained a fire at two large wooden agricultural buildings in Finchingfield, Essex, with the flames spreading from a former poultry shed to another structure.