There has reportedly been a fire at a hay barn in Co. Laois earlier this evening (Thursday, November 9), according to local publication, the Leinster Express.
The incident took place in Raheen, Co. Laois; fire services from Portlaoise and Abbeyleix are believed to have been called to the scene at approximately 4:30pm today.
According to the Leinster Express, there were no injuries reported and the cause of the fire is unknown. There are no further details available at this time.
This is the second fire in less than a week, following the inferno in the North of the country, where a Co. Antrim farmer has lost his winter supply of hay and straw after a shed fire destroyed thousands of pounds of supplies at the weekend.
The 45,000ft² shed had been used to store Randalstown beef and sheep farmer James Alexander’s supply of straw and hay for the winter, as well as some machinery and lambing equipment.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson said officers received a report of a shed fire at premises on Gloverstown Road, Randalstown, at around 10:00pm on Sunday, November 5.
It’s understood the damage could total hundreds of thousands of pounds.
A spokeswoman for Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines from Magherafelt Fire Station, one from Antrim Fire Station and a water tanker from Dungiven Fire Station were sent to the scene.
She said it was 6:51pm the next day before crews left the scene and added that the fire was “well alight” on the crews’ arrival.
Investigations are underway into how the fire began; it’s not yet known whether it started accidentally.