DORSET and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding farmers of the importance of keeping up cleaning and maintenance schedules during the harvest period.

The service is called to deal with numerous fired involving farm machinery, hay bales, fields and barns ever year.

Watch manager Graham Kewley, fire safety team leader (central), said: “As the harvest goes on, farmers are working long, hard hours and it’s easy to let chaff and dust build up in the machines, which can then catch fire if parts of the combine then overheat.

“The problem is compounded when machinery is worked extra hard between periods of inclement weather, or when crops are harvested and stored in less than ideal conditions.”

The service is also reminding farmers of the requirement to carry out a fire risk assessment for their buildings.

Part of this process should identify access and water supplies to assist firefighters and the location of hazards such as cylinders, fertilisers and flammable liquids.

Watch manager Kewley said: “We also encourage farmers to have a farm emergency plan – this can save vital minutes in the event of an incident, and will help firefighters to deal with a fire more quickly and more safely.”