Farm blazes putting lives at risk

Many were started deliberately, with isolated locations and easily ignitable materials making farms vulnerable to arson.

Farmers are asked to remove hay and straw soon after harvesting, store fuels and fertilisers locked away.

Arson reduction officer Andy Kirwan: “Not only do fires like this put lives at risk by potentially diverting fire engines away from other incidents, they also cost farmers thousands of pounds in damage.”

More than 1,600 farm buildings are lost to fire each year in the UK, the fire service said.