A RURAL risk project run by the Scottish Fire and Rescue service, in conjunction with NFU Scotland, is now making its way to the Highlands.

The project, which had its debut in South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, comes in the form of a questionnaire to be completed by farmers to make their local fire service team aware of what risks there could be on their farm, to firefighters and themselves, in the event of a fire.

There are over 9000 farms in Scotland and firefighters regularly respond to farm-related incidents. Through 2013 to 2015, it was recorded that there had been an increase in farm fires in Scotland, with 635 primary fires and nearly 2800 secondary fires.

The Scottish fire service believe that filling out this survey will give each crew a detailed plan of action – built around advance knowledge of where risks like fuel stores and flammable materials are sited – which could be the difference between saving and losing property, livestock, and potentially even lives.

The fire service intend to visit farming events across the Highlands to encourage farmers to fill in forms. Visit www.firescotland.gov.uk for details.