Following a number of farm machinery fires in recent days, firefighters in Co. Carlow have offered a range of tips for farmers and agricultural contractors to help avoid their tractors and other machinery going on fire this summer.

In a statement on the matter online yesterday (Thursday, June 10), Carlow County Fire and Rescue Service said:

"Over the past number of days, Carlow fire brigades have been alerted to a number of fires in farm machinery across the county which [have] resulted in significant damage to farmers' and agricultural contractors' property.

Continuing, the fire service offered a number of "useful tips to reduce the risk of your tractor or machinery catching fire".

These include the following:

With a relatively warm, dry and sunny weekend in store for much of the country, farmers and contractors would do well to heed the firefighters' advice as the 2021 silage season continues.