Oxford News
Warning for farmers to prevent fires during harvest season
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding those in the agricultural sector to create fire breaks, clean machinery regularly, and ensure water sources are close at hand.
A farm plan should be available for emergency crews in case of a fire.
Fires can be caused by machinery, electrical faults, arson, or spontaneous combustion of stored hay.
To check haystack temperatures, a thermometer should be used through a pipe in the centre of the middle or lower stacks for 15 minutes.
Hay should be dry before storage and kept away from other buildings and roads.
Fire services attended more than 800 agricultural machinery fires across the UK in 2022, with nine machines catching fire daily during harvest season.