Residents of Great Barton were urged to close all their windows by firefighters yesterday as they fought to extinguish a burning diesel tank near Bury St Edmunds.

%image(15273872, type="article-full", alt="The fire started at Redcastle Farm in Great Barton, where six fire crews battled to contain the blaze Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD")

Firefighters were called at 1.34pm on Thursday afternoon to Brand Road in the village of Great Barton after black smoke was reportedly seen drifting towards homes nearby.

Five fire crews - from Wickhambrook, Bury St Edmunds, Elmswell and Newmarket - as well as one crew from Norfolk Fire and Rescue, were deployed to battle a blaze that was engulfing a barn, garages, a crop sprayer and a diesel tank.

%image(15273873, type="article-full", alt="The fire at redcastle Farm Cottage in Brand Road, Great Barton, left several structures burned to the ground Picture: SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE")

The fire had started in a barn which was located on the grounds of Redcastle Farm Cottage on the outskirts of the Suffolk town.

Firefighters declared the incident a threat to public safety and local residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows closed due to the large plume on the wind.-

%image(15273875, type="article-full", alt="A crop sprayer, a diesel tank and barns were lost to the blaze at Redcastle Farm Cottage Picture: SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE")

Darren Cooper, station commander, said: "Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service received a call at approximately 1.30pm this afternoon and mobilised resources.

"On arrival, we were confronted with a well-developed fire coming from what appeared to be the outbuildings on the farm itself.

%image(15273877, type="article-full", alt="Suffolk firefighters spent hours sampening the buildings at the Great Barton cottage to make sure the fire was extinguished Picture: SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE")

"We quickly established we had cylinders involved and a quantity of pesticides of the kind you would expect to find on a farm.

"At this point in time we are gathering information and very much in the defensive mode of operation so we have surrounded the incident, covering branches and protecting the surrounding area."

%image(15273879, type="article-full", alt="A large plume of black smoke left firefighters warning Great Barton residents to remain indoors and close all windows' Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD")

After bringing the fire under control, Mr Cooper added: "We've liaised with the police to ascertain the extent of the wind plume and at this point in time we are not expecting there to be any hazard to the public at all, but we will update them if anything changes with the incident.

"At the moment we are not believing the incident to be suspicious at all.

%image(15273881, type="article-full", alt="The fire at Redcastle Farm, Great Barton, has set a diesel tank, crop sprayer, garage and barn alight Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD")

"No one was injured and because of the pesticides involved, our concern is now to the environment and the firefighters in attendance."

The Environment Agency and Suffolk Constabulary were informed of the incident however, all roads surrounding the area remained open while fire crews battled the blaze.

%image(15273882, type="article-full", alt="The smoke produced by the fire was initially considered a "threat to public safety" and firefighters instructed the public to close their windows Picture: SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE")

%image(15273883, type="article-full", alt="The smoke from the fire in Great Barton, in the north west Suffolk, formed a large black cloud, deemed a threat to public safety by the firefighters at the scene Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD")

%image(15273885, type="article-full", alt="Six fire crewes, five from Suffolk and one from Norfolk, remain at the scene of the blaze in Redcastle Farm, Brand Street, Great Barton Picture: MICHAEL STEWARD")