Top Gear props go up in smoke

3:18pm Tuesday 14th August 2007

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PROPS from BBC series Top Gear went up in smoke on Sunday night when arsonists destroyed a barn.

Seven fire crews from St Albans, Harpenden, Wheathampstead, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield fought the blaze at Hill End Farm, in High Street, Sandridge, just before midnight.

More than 35 firefighters spent four hours tackling the huge fire, near Nomansland, before four relief crews took over.

Half of the outbuilding contained 200 tonnes of grain while the other half was rented by the BBC to store various Top Gear props and equipment.

A spokesman for the BBC said: "Top Gear does use Hill End Farm as a storage facility, but at this stage we have no information as to what, if anything, was destroyed."

The barn also housed two acetylene cylinders and one oxygen cylinder.

Firefighters enforced a 200-metre exclusion zone around the barn in case the cylinders exploded in the raging heat.

Once at a safe distance, the crews began cooling the cylinders down with water.

St Albans crew manager John Hudnott said: "The flames were 40 metres high.

"The fire wasn't seen until it came right out of the roof because its in such an isolated spot.

"By the time we turned up the barn roof and sides had completely gone."

"London firefighters provided the crews with an extended hose, as crews could not reach the nearest water hydrant in Sandridge village with their standard hose reels.

"The control unit was brought in from Hatfield to co-ordinate firefighting efforts.

Fire crews from Redbourn, Welwyn, Watford and Hemel Hempstead remained on the site throughout night and continued to damp down the smouldering barn remains throughout Monday morning.

Police guarded the site while Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) examined the barn.

A fire investigation team also inspected the site with the help of the fire service's dog CC.

Both the police and fire investigation teams concluded that the fire was started deliberately.

A police spokesman said the offenders entered the barn and set it alight before fleeing from the scene.

Police want to speak to a man who was walking his dog nearby, shortly after the fire started.

Anyone who has information on the blaze can telephone the investigating officer, PC Leigh Topol, on 01707 638234.