Fire in huge East Ilsley horse manure heap extinguished in three hours

According to Lee Glover, watch manager of Blue Watch at Newbury Fire Station, one pump from Newbury was called at 1.05pm to Summerdown Stables, in Cow Lane, where a 100 tonne heap of horse manure, measuring approximately 100m by 5m by 5m, was smouldering.
They joined forces with a crew from Didcot Fire Station, who had been at the scene since around midday, along with a water bowser from Pangbourne Fire Station, carrying 8,000 litres of water.
“A farmer with a digger dug out the smouldering manure and spread it on the ground and we put lots of water on it,” said Mr Glover.
The cause was put down to self-ignition, due to the decomposition of the manure.
Firefighters left the scene at 3.15pm.