"Significant rise" in farm fires this year, warns Rutland farmers union
45 acres of crops went up in flames near Oakham over the weekend
The National Farmers Union tells Greatest Hits Radio there's been a "significant rise" in the number of farm fires this year, which is a concern for rural patches like Stamford and Rutland.
It's after 45 acres of crop went up in flames in a field in-between Brooke and Ridlington, near Oakham, over the weekend.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue say the cause was "believed to be spontaneous combustion due to a spark", which soon made a large fire spread.
Harriet Ranson, County Advisor for the Leicestershire and Rutland National Farmers Union, says months of dry weather made situation go from bad to worse:
'We've seen a significant rise in farm fires this year, mainly due to the extended period of dry weather, meaning there is no moisture at all in the soil or in any of the plants that are on top of the soil.'
'So even the smallest spark from a piece of machinery catching a bit of flint on the soil is enough to set a fire going, and with a small breeze behind it, it will keep going until it meets a barrier of some description.'
'This has just been a very long period with no rain whatsoever, normally we get a little bit somewhere and at the moment there's just been nothing of note that's gone on long enough to make a difference, and not only is it the risk of fire it's the impact it's had on our ability to grow crops.'
A point to be made
Harriet told us the fire on Brooke Road on Sunday proved the point of being extra careful in rural areas during times of prolonged hot and dry weather.
'If a spark from a bit of metal hitting flint can cause a fire that takes out 45 acres worth of crop, just imagine the damage your disposable BBQ can do, or a cigarette butt flicked under a hedge', she said.
'Broken glass you can't be bothered to clean up, god forbid anyone lights Chinese lanterns or fireworks, anything like that is just an absolute no no - there's no reason to risk yourself, other people, the environment, or our food.'