Police are appealing for information after a series of arson attacks across rural Herefordshire (Photo: Peterchurch Fire Station)
A barn fire in Norton Canon has become the latest in a series of arson attacks under investigation across rural Herefordshire.
West Mercia Police said officers were called at around 3am on Sunday, 23 August, following reports of the blaze.
Several similar incidents have been reported across the county in recent weeks, prompting detectives to appeal directly to people living in affected communities.
Detective Sergeant Mark Jones said: “We are appealing directly to the communities affected for any information that may help with our investigation.”
Police have warned that deliberate fires can be particularly dangerous in rural areas, where flames can spread quickly and threaten farms, homes and animals.
“Arson can have devastating consequences, particularly in rural areas where fires can spread quickly and pose a serious risk to people, property, livestock and the wider environment,” DS Jones said.
Investigators want to hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity, vehicles or individuals around the areas where fires have been reported.
Officers are also asking residents and motorists to check whether CCTV, doorbell cameras or dashcams may have captured anything relevant.
“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity, vehicles or individuals in the areas affected, or who may have relevant footage from dashcams, CCTV or doorbell cameras,” DS Jones added.
The Herefordshire investigation comes amid wider concern over deliberate fires affecting farms and rural businesses across the country.
In Kent, a suspected arson attack on farmland near Dover caused more than £100,000 in estimated losses earlier this month.
Farm fires caused more than £100 million worth of damage across the UK in 2024, according to the latest available figures from NFU Mutual.
The rural insurer has warned that fires remain one of the most destructive and dangerous threats facing agricultural businesses.