Chew Valley School News
Year 11 student helps rescue animals from farm blaze
Tom Blanchard in Year 11 played a crucial role
in preventing a catastrophe in Chew Stoke last weekend (September 12th). Tom has a part-time job at the farm in Breach Hill Lane and called 999 as soon as he noticed the flames in buildings on the farm. Six hundred tons of hay were destroyed in the blaze and a huge pall of smoke could be seen for miles.
Tom’s concern was for the sixty cattle which were in an adjacent barn. With the hay smouldering on the floor, Tom helped the farmer to lead the cattle and their calves to safety, while firefighters from Chew Magna, Blagdon and Bedminster contained the blaze.
Tom was typically modest about his actions, saying that he did not have time to think and that the adrenaline rush kept him going. He was full of admiration for the professional job
of the firefighters and is now enquiring about the possibility of joining the Fire Service after his studies.
