Firefighters battle large blaze engulfing barns off the A36 Salisbury Road at Ower

FIREFIGHTERS battled through the night to contain flaming barns of around 500 bales of hay as surrounding roads were closed off at Ower.

Nearby residents were told to keep their doors and windows closed, and motorists faced disruption, amid continued efforts to extinguish the inferno engulfing the outbuildings off the A36 Salisbury Road.

The alarm was first raised around 4pm yesterday (Monday), with initial reports of a camper van on fire at the site.

But the flames soon spread to a number of nearby barns and, by 6.15pm, eight fire engines, plus water carriers and other specialist vehicles, were on scene.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service asked drivers to take care in the area around junction two on the M27.

Posting an update at 1.30am today, it said the incident was ongoing but with the response scaled down to three fire engines.

“We are likely to continue to have a presence onsite throughout Tuesday,” the update said.

“There is still significant smoke in the area and residents are advised to keep their doors and windows closed.”

Shortly after 5.30am, Hampshire County Council reported Salisbury Road’s northbound carriageway was shut due to firefighting equipment.

The closure, between the A326 at Calmore and the A31 Romsey Road at Copythorne, remained in place for most of this morning’s rush hour.

It was lifted shortly after 8.30am, although HCC said Loperwood Road remained shut.

An HIWFRS spokesperson told the A&T this afternoon the incident was still ongoing, with three crews remaining on the scene damping down.

“Firefighters are currently working with farm workers to turnover the hay and ensure the fire is fully out,” they said.