The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have attended several fires since Friday 26 July, with the spate continuing today (Monday 29 July) with a tractor and forager fire in Upottery.

The service have issued a warning to farmers saying: "We wanted to remind the public and farmers how easily these fires can start. Hay stacks next to roads and public footpaths are vulnerable to fires – either from discarded cigarette ends or by arson."

A crew from Honiton and one from Chard attended today's fire, and used compressed air foam, one hose reel jet and two breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire which caused one hundred percent fire damage to the tractor and fifty percent fire damage to the forager.

On Friday 26 July crews from Dulverton, South Molton and Barnstaple were sent to a barn on fire. On arrival crews confirmed one barn containing straw and hay well alight, and got to work with two hose reel jets and a farm mechanical digger to put the fire out. The farmer then confirmed this barn contained 175 tons of hay and 220 tons of straw.

On Saturday 27 July fire crews from Williton and Dulverton extinguished a tractor fire at Cutcombe Wheddon Cross. Fortunately the farmer removed the tractor from inside a wooden shed storing woodchip as soon as he realised the vehicle was affected by fire. Fire crews extinguished the fire using one hose reel jet and a thermal image camera. There was fifty percent fire damage to the tractor. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

Also on Saturday 27, a tractor towing agricultural trailer with 20 hay bales was involved in a fire at Pylle near Shepton Mallet. 22 firefighters were in attendance trying to prevent further fire spread. Three fire engines from Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary attended as well as a water carrier from Bridgwater. Fire crews requested the attendance of a fourth fire engine from Glastonbury. There was one tractor well alight and the fire was spreading to nearby hedgerow and a telegraph pole. Fire crews used compressed air foam systems, two breathing apparatus wearers, two main jets and one hose reel jet to extinguish approximately twenty hay bales. The Environment Agency and British Telecom were also requested.

On Sunday 28 July, the Fire Service received a call to a tractor on fire at Peters Marland near Torrington. Two fire appliances from Torrington and Hatherleigh as well as the water bowser from Barnstaple were mobilised.

Fire crews confirmed one small tractor on fire in a courtyard. Crews extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus wearers, one compressed air foam systems jet and a thermal image camera to check for hot spots. Ninety percent of the tractor was damaged by fire.

Also on Sunday 28 several calls were received to a barn on fire in Angersleigh near Taunton. Crews from Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater and Crediton were mobilised. One barn was well alight containing one tractor and one forklift truck. The building was 50 per cent damaged by the fire. Crews extinguished using one hosereel jet, one compressed air jet , two main jets and one telehandler. The cause of the fire was accidental.