A Doncaster farming family are counting the cost after a blaze tore through buildings and equipment at Waite's Farm, in the Fosterhouses area, late on Sunday 26 July. The family have been left emotionally shaken as they face large repair bills and gaps in insurance cover.
Losses and insurance gaps
Locals have described the incident as a devastating blow. Neighbouring residents and friends say hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of machinery and other assets have been affected. Because the farm lies within a designated high flood‑risk area, some barns and their contents were not eligible for insurance cover, leaving the family to meet those costs themselves.
A close friend who has organised help explained the scale of the impact and the strain it has placed on the household. She said the family were heartbroken and struggling to see a way forward.
"They've literally just, they've lost everything, and insurance are not going to pay out."
Community response and fundraising
In response, volunteer organiser Amanda Brown has launched a crowdfunding appeal to provide immediate support while longer-term arrangements are considered. The fundraiser has already attracted more than £1,000 in donations.
- Location: Waite's Farm, Fosterhouses, Doncaster
- Date of fire: Sunday 26 July
- Initial public donations: in excess of £1,000
- Reason for limited insurance cover: farm sits in a high flood-risk zone
The appeal aims to help the family with immediate practical needs and the initial costs of recovering livelihood and repairing damaged structures. The organiser has also said she hopes wider attention to the case might prompt discussion about support for rural properties that are hard to insure because of flood risk.
Practical information for readers
Those wishing to help have been directed to the GoFundMe page set up by the organiser. Anyone with information about the incident, or those who might be able to offer donated equipment or temporary storage, are encouraged to get in touch with local community networks or the organiser directly through the fundraiser page.
| Item | Known status |
|---|---|
| Farm location | Fosterhouses, Doncaster |
| Date of fire | 26 July |
| Insurance cover | Partial — some barns and contents excluded due to flood risk |
| Crowdfund amount raised | More than £1,000 |
The family continue to receive support from neighbours and friends while they survey the full extent of the damage and liaise with insurers and contractors. Local people say the situation remains raw as the family try to piece together what they have lost and plan the work needed to get the farm back into working order.
