FARMERS are urged to show vigilance with their haystacks following a spate of blazes throughout the month.
Above-average rainfall during December has increase the moisture level in bales throughout the region, with hot weather sparking blazes that can take up to 12 hours to control.
One of the largest haystack fires to occur this season kept personnel from seven brigades busy on Sunday at Macorna.
Crews from Appin South, Cohuna, Kerang, Leitchville, Loddon Vale, Macorna and Pyramid Hill worked to prevent a fire from destroying neighbouring sheds and haystacks at a Macorna-Pyramid Road property on Sunday.
Authorities were called to the property at 3.30am, with the fire under control just after 2pm – not before the blaze destroyed a hay shed and around 1500 large square bales.
Personnel were able to save around 1000 other bales during containment efforts.
Meanwhile, crews took around one hour to control a second haystack fire at a Lalbert Lake Road property near Lalbert on Christmas Day.
“We are asking farmers to be vigilant with their haystacks, as the rate of fires occurring are four to five times higher than normal,” Kerang Fire Brigade captain, Ramon Steel said.
“These fires are occurring due to internal combustion, and even bales that are two years old are being affected as the rain we had earlier this month has got into them.”
