FIREFIGHTERS have been dealing with two large fires in County Durham overnight.
A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were first called shortly before 7pm on Friday night to a blaze at Thornley Station Industrial Estate, Shotton Colliery, where 150 tonnes of baled paper were well alight.
Appliances from Peterlee and Wheatley Hill attended, as well as a water bowser. Three jets and a hosereel were used to extinguish the fire, with firefighters using four breathing apparatus.
Firefighters left the scene at 10.30pm and at 11.15pm were called to a second fire at a farm near Thornley, involving up to 500 tonnes of baled hay inside a barn, which was were burning.
Two appliances from Peterlee, one from Spennymoor and one from Wheatley Hill were in attendance.
An appliance remains on the scene, where 60 tonnes of hay is still on fire.
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