FIRE crews have been praised for the way they tackled a blaze which ripped through the upper floors of a Mole Valley Farmers mill in Uffculme.

Staff at the mill tried at first to put out the flames with fire extinguishers when a grinder caught alight on the first floor of the Bridge Street premises on Wednesday afternoon (January 10).

But it quickly became apparent the incident was too serious for them and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue was called.

A Mole Valley spokesman told the Wellington Weekly: “Nobody was hurt. We took all the relevant emergency procedures.

Some of the more than a dozen fire appliances which attended a blaze in the Mole Valley Farmers' Uffculme feed mill.
Some of the more than a dozen fire appliances which attended a blaze in the Mole Valley Farmers' Uffculme feed mill. (DSFR)

“The fire crews came onto the site and it was a fairly significant fire. They did a great job and brought it under control.”

More than a dozen fire engines attended from 11 different stations, including Wellington, Tiverton, Bampton, and Taunton.

Firefighters remained at the scene for nearly 24 hours as the blaze spread from the first floor to the second storey of the feed mill and consumed machinery.

Mole Valley Farmers only took over the Uffculme mill from ABN Ltd last September to strengthen its commitment to ‘the organic ruminant sector’.

It operates as a dedicated organic facility to allow the farmer-owned Mole Valley business to better service organic customers, while driving greater efficiencies and cost savings across its supply chain.

The spokesman said on Thursday: “There is inevitably a little bit of disruption but we are taking today to do some surveys to understand what still operates.

Wellington firefighters were among dozens who fought a feed mill blaze in Uffculme.
Wellington firefighters were among dozens who fought a feed mill blaze in Uffculme. (DSFR)

“We have some stock so we hope to fulfil deliveries to organic customers today.

“Our Huntworth site in Bridgwater can produce organic feed rations so we are switching production to there so it is business as usual for our customers.”

Mole Valley Farmers’ chief executive, Jack Cordery said at the time of taking over the lease of the Uffculme mill it would benefit shareholders, members, and farming customers alike.

Mr Cordery said: “The number of organic feed manufacturers in the South West has reduced in recent years, but as a business we remain firmly committed to the organic sector.

“Bringing Uffculme into our portfolio will enable us to move organic production out of our Huntworth Mill, in Somerset, into a dedicated facility.

Fire crews who fought a feed mill blaze in Uffculme have been praised for their response.
Fire crews who fought a feed mill blaze in Uffculme have been praised for their response. (DSFR)

“This will drive significant efficiencies through Huntworth, promoting better use of energy and tighter cost control, while removing the complexities of running a single mill that produces both conventional and organic rations.”

The Uffculme site also allowed Mole Valley to produce organic monogastric rations and create greater competition in the marketplace, with the potential for future expansion into the sector.

Mole Valley has more than 9,000 farmer shareholders and more than 53,000 country members and employs 2,000-plus staff and has an annual turnover of £615 million.