A number of fire crews in the midlands were called to a farm to quench a silage pit which had somehow caught fire.
Crews from Rathdowney and Abbeyleix dealt with the silage pit fire in Errill, Co. Laois, yesterday (Thursday, March 1).
The fire occurred on the same day as the brunt of the ‘Beast from the East’ was due to strike Ireland.
Image source: Laois County Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page
Fire crews worked to bring the blaze under control, while also trying to deal with the snowy conditions underfoot.
Gorse fires
In other news, firefighters in Co. Kerry have been forced to deal with a number of gorse fires in recent days.
The closed period for gorse burning – as well as hedge-cutting – began yesterday (March 1), and will remain in place until August 31.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued a Status Red forest fire danger rating – which has since passed.
However, weather conditions at the time were outside general prescription limits for safe prescribed burning, the department added.
The Department of Agriculture reminded farmers that gorse burning should not be attempted between March 1 and August 31.