The fire service has issued a warning to parents after tacking almost 40 deliberate fires. Image: DC Thomson.
A farmer yesterday told of his relieve that a fire had not spread to the rest of his steading.
It is thought the fire at Wester Gruinards farm near Ardgay was caused by an electrical fault in a tractor inside the barn.
A Massey Ferguson tractor, worth between £5,000 and £10,000, was completely destroyed, and a small quantity of animal feed was lost during the blaze.
Farmer Derek Matheson, 51, said that his mother, who stays less than 50ft away form the barn, was the first to spot the smoke and raise the alarm.
He said: “It was just a shock. The biggest fear was that it spread and then we would have lost all five of the buildings in the area. I dread to think what would have happened if it had happened through the night.
“I would also like to thank the fire brigade for their efforts.”
Three appliances, from Bonar Bridge, Lairg, and Dornoch, were mobilised at 7.45pm and the blaze was extinguished at about 10pm.
There were no injuries, and no other property was damaged.
Barn Fire at Ardgay took three hours to extinguish
