Two units and a water tanker from Killarney fire station attended a farmyard fire one mile from the station last Thursday afternoon, Co Kerry assistant chief fire officer Michael Flynn told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Firefighters were alerted by relief milkers and farm staff in the farmer's absence and found a shed containing hay, straw and feed on fire. "They used compressed air foam to knock down the fire and machinery to pull out the bales and douse them in the yard," Flynn said.

Some people try to stop fires themselves, but a small fire extinguisher would not put out a fire like this

The fire was put out in two hours and the farm's workers and livestock were uninjured. Structural damage to the shed was also avoided.

Flynn said it was unclear how the fire started as there was no electricity installed in the shed. Hay heating up on the warm day may have ignited.

The fire officer said the happy outcome was thanks to the farm workers who raised the alarm immediately. "Some people try to stop fires themselves, but a small fire extinguisher would not put out a fire like this," Flynn said.

He added that this was one of 12 calls on a busy Thursday in Co Kerry, including five gorse fires.