Firefighters saved nine horses from a fire in an isolated stable block on farmland on Hewitts Road in Chelsfield, Orpington this morning.
A van driver called the Brigade after noticing smoke in the area. The stable block’s fire alarm system had also activated.
Watch Manager Allister Woods from Orpington Fire Station, who was at the fire, said:
“When firefighters arrived we discovered there were nine horses in the stables, which were filling with smoke. Luckily the fire started in a section of the roof, but if it had begun among the horses they could have panicked and been badly injured."
"They were quite scared by the smoke, flashing lights and fire engine noise, but fire crews are trained to deal with fires involving large animals. We knew it would be better to get the smoke out than release frightened horses into the open."
"We put the fire out, ventilated the block and calmed the horses down. When it was light we discovered 5 Llamas were watching us next to the stables, but they were not involved in the incident.”
The cause of the fire is thought to have been an electrical fault.
Four fire engines, 21 firefighters and officers from Orpington and Sidcup Fire Stations attended the incident.
The Brigade was called at 0435 and the fire was under control at 0545.