By following a few simple steps, you can help mitigate the risk of fire on your farm.

• Regular maintenance – Ensure that your equipment is clean and maintained before every harvest activity. Regular equipment blowdowns and lubrication schedules can help avoid fires within your equipment.

• Help us find you  – Provide an accurate location and description of the entrance of your farm to Thames Valley Fire Control Service and wait for firefighters to arrive. They will then ask you to guide them to the scene of the incident.

• Know where your water supplies are – Ensure that any available water supplies on your farm are accessible to fire and rescue crews. If you know where your nearest fire hydrant is, ensure that this is clear and accessible.

• Have contingency arrangements in place – Consider using cultivators to put in fire breaks where safe to do so. If you have water bowsers available to extinguish spot fires ensure that they are near and full of water.

• Store safe – Where possible avoid storing bales near main roads to deter would-be trespassers and arsonists. Store pesticides and fertilisers securely and remember it’s critical to let us know if these products are involved in a fire due to the specific risks they pose.

• Check conditions + consult the Fire Severity Index before planning harvesting activities – This will help you identify the best time of day to start your harvesting to avoid the most extreme weather zones. Also check wind direction and where possible harvest in the direction of the already cut crop and not the unharvested crop. You can view the Fire Severity Index by visiting the Met Office’s website.