A local farmer has told of his fear after a fire which started in a field of straw adjacent to his house spread over 9-10 acres.

Tim McClelland, a DUP Councillor for Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council who has an arable and grassland farm, said the fire started when “the field of straw was being turned in preparation for baling”.

He said “what seemed to have happened was that a metal part of the turner hit a stone and that caused a spark and this started the fire”.

He added: “It was like a gorse fire because everything was so dry and in the space of about 10 minutes it went from three small pockets of fire to basically a couple or three acres being burned”.

"Then after an hour nine or ten acres were burned.

"It was scary how quickly it moved.

"There was a little bit of wind as well but we are thankful the wind didn’t change direction because it was in a 20 acre field that is right around our house.

"So basically it was quite scary but it could have been an awful lot worse.

"No property was destroyed.

"And the fire brigade came out as I was going around it with the telehandler trying to get soil to stop the blaze".

“It started 5.30pm yesterday at the brightest part of the day where the sun as well up

In a post on social media today Mr McClelland said: ‘Huge thanks to Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue this evening from the McClelland family.

‘A spark caused a field of oat straw to catch fire. Literally within 30 minutes nearly 10 acres of straw was destroyed.

‘Three fire appliances were in attendance. Best of thanks to all fire crew for getting the situation under control.

‘Thanks also to Megaw Harvesting for all their help!

‘Very thankful no one was injured and that no buildings or our house were damaged. It did come a little close for comfort.

‘Very fortunate and very thankful’.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said they received a call for help at 5.13pm on August 12.

They said two fire appliances attended the scene – one from Armagh Fire Station and one from Banbridge Fire Station.

They said ‘firefighters were called to reports of hay on fire in a field on Moodage Road, Tandragee’ and firefighters ‘used 3 hose reel jets and 4 beaters to extinguish the fire’.

They added that ‘the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental ignition and Firefighters left the scene at 7.23pm’.