Six outbuildings were 'fully engulfed' in a fire in Hatfield, in which gas cylinders were also involved.
Yesterday (Wednesday, June 28), the A1000 Great North Road was forced to close due to a blaze that had originated in woodland near Woodside Lane.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area, with the A1000 closed from the Oxlease roundabout to the Rookery Cafe roundabout.
Firefighters have now revealed that six outbuildings and two gas canisters were involved in the incident.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "At around 3pm yesterday (28 June), Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Services’s control room took the first of seven calls to a reported barn on fire.
"Initially, three fire engines were mobilised to the scene, the first arriving in under nine minutes.
"Upon arrival the incident commander was confronted with six outbuildings fully engulfed in fire and, due to the severity of the situation, requested three additional fire engines.
"The incident posed an additional challenge due to the presence of two gas cylinders that added to the hazard.
"One of the cylinders ruptured early on, intensifying the fire.
"The second cylinder required extensive cooling and ongoing monitoring, facilitated with the use of thermal image cameras.
"As the situation progressed and our teams extinguished the fire, the incident was scaled down to two appliances at around 6pm.
"The fire was fully under control at around 7pm.
"Throughout the incident, 10 fire appliances from across Hertfordshire attended including those from Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Borehamwood, Cheshunt, St Albans, Hitchin, and Garston.
"Our fire investigation team are working with the police to determine the cause of the fire.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said, at the time of the blaze: "We're at the scene of a fire in woodland at Woodside Lane, Hatfield.
"As a result of the fire's spread, we have closed the A1000/Great North Road from the junction for Oxlease roundabout down to the Rookery Cafe roundabout.
"Please avoid the area and seek an alternative route."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here