Ower fire: Huge blaze erupts after campervan set alight as locals urged to shut windows

People have been ordered to keep their doors and windows shut as a campervan at a barn containing hundreds of bales of hay.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue are still at the scene of the blaze in Ower after the alarm was raised at around 4pm today. The fire started inbefore then spreading to a nearby barn, which continues to burn.

Residents have been told to beware of smoke, which may be seen from a nearby motorway. A spokesman for the fire service said: "Crews are currently in attendance at a barn fire in Ower.

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"Residents in the surrounding area are asked to close their doors and windows due to smoke and drivers are asked to take care in the area around JCT 2 on the M27. The initial call came in at around 4pm this afternoon and related to a fire in a camper van. The fire then spread to the adjacent barn which contains approximately 500 bales of hay.

"There are eight fire engines, plus water carriers and other specialist vehicles on the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using four jets to tackle the blaze."