Carlow fire services attended the scene of a fire, in what is understood to be a field of barley, on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred between Tullow and Carlow at around 4pm.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this point.

On Friday, Tipperary fire services attended the scene of a blaze where a field of straw went on fire.

Tipp Fm reported that the fire broke out around lunchtime on Friday and three units of the fire brigade were dispatched from Thurles and Templemore to bring it under control.

Tipperary and Carlow fire services have been contacted for comment.

Combines and balers are the big fire risks at harvest time, followed by tractors, Teagasc’s Dermot Forristal has advised.

Risk to life

“The risk of fire to life or injury is paramount, but of course machines are at risk too, and in very dry hot periods, there is a real crop or straw loss risk.

“Machine bearing failure, friction from rubbing components, and electrical shorts are the main sources of ignition which find easy fuel in a dusty and possibly oily environment,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

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