A TRACTOR and a trailer of hay went up in flames in Borris-in-Ossory last weekend.
Despite the vehicle being gutted by fire, the damage could have been a lot worse, if not for the quick actions of the tractor driver.
The Bunclody man had been travelling through the town with 56 bales of hay on a trailer. After stopping for some food in a chipper, he noticed about 7.30pm that the hay was on fire.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Declan Power said: “He had two options: to release the hitch and save his tractor, or to drive out away from the houses and get it out of Borris. In fairness to him, he made a good call to get it away from the houses.”
The driver subsequently drove the tractor out the Roscrea Road past St Mark’s Church.
Mountrath Fire Brigade responded to the call and a team of eight firemen brought the fire under control and left the scene four hours later. Gardaí are not treating the fire as suspicious.