FIREFIGHTERS managed to prevent a volatile gas cylinder exploding in a farm blaze this week. The fire started in a workshop at Grove Farm in Flamstead at around 7.30am on Tuesday and the flames quickly spread to an adjacent barn. On arrival at the scene

FIREFIGHTERS managed to prevent a volatile gas cylinder exploding in a farm blaze this week.

The fire started in a workshop at Grove Farm in Flamstead at around 7.30am on Tuesday and the flames quickly spread to an adjacent barn. On arrival at the scene in Puddephat's Lane, the three fire crews - two from Hemel Hempstead and one from Markyate - found an acetylene cylinder at risk of overheating in the fire and exploding.

They secured covering jets to cool the cylinder and then had to withdraw to a safe distance to tackle the fire, which was finally out at around 1pm.

Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the day to cool the cylinder.

They managed to save the barn involved in the blaze from being destroyed. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.