A Fetcham farmer has told how he awoke to the sound of loud bangs and found one of his best wheat fields on fire late on Friday, estimating a loss of around £7,500.
Steven Conisbee, who runs Barracks Farm and is a ninth‑generation farmer on the site, said he was alerted at about 22:00 when his son phoned. He drove straight to the farm and discovered flames sweeping through the crop as a strong wind drove the fire.
"I leapt out of bed, threw some clothes on, jumped in my pickup truck and headed down... I felt absolutely gutted."
Fire crews subsequently tackled the blaze alongside people from the farm. Mr Conisbee said the speed and noise of the fire had surprised him and that, on a year already affected by drought, seeing a promising crop destroyed was particularly upsetting. He added he was very concerned about the risk of repeat incidents, describing the area as a "total tinderbox", but also expressed a determination to continue farming.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and other South East emergency services have been issuing warnings in recent weeks about the elevated risk of wildfires across the region. The county has seen a series of grass and heathland fires this summer; the service said on Thursday it had contained a wildfire at Brentmoor Heath near Woking.
Incident details
The published account provides these known facts about the incident:
- Location: Barracks Farm, Fetcham
- Time alerted: About 22:00 on Friday
- Estimated crop loss: Approximately £7,500 worth of wheat
- Response: Firefighters and farm personnel extinguished the blaze
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Farmer | Steven Conisbee (ninth-generation) |
| Farm | Barracks Farm, Fetcham |
| Loss | About £7,500 of wheat |
Local impact and wider context
The loss will be a setback for a farm already operating in challenging conditions; Mr Conisbee referred to the year as a drought year, making the destruction of a promising crop especially damaging. For rural communities and emergency services, the incident underlines the continuing pressure presented by dry conditions across Surrey and the wider South East.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has been active in attending and containing multiple wildfires this season. Local landowners and residents have been urged to remain vigilant, as the combination of dry vegetation and wind can allow fires to spread rapidly.
Practical points for residents
- Report any sighting of fire or smoke to the emergency services immediately.
- Keep clear access for appliances and avoid using machinery that may spark in dry conditions.
- Follow advice and warnings issued by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and local councils.
Mr Conisbee emphasised both his disappointment and his resolve. He said the farm will plough the field and sow again in the autumn. His account is a reminder of how quickly rural livelihoods can be affected by local fires during prolonged dry spells and why emergency warnings continue to be issued across the county.
