Firefighters attend two slurry tank incidents in Fermanagh Omagh

Following a call at 10.51am on Tuesday morning, four Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue (NIFRS) pumps, the large animal rescue team and the special rescue team attended a farm at the Lettermoney Road, Irvinestown, where it was reported that cattle were in a slurry tank.

NIFRS personnel attending an incident at the Lettermoney Road, Irvinestown where six cattle had fallen into a slurry tank. Photo: NiResponsevids Twitter.

It is understood that the British Red Cross were also in attendance.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “We concluded the incident at 5.01pm with a total of six cattle released from a slurry tank.”

The second incident occurred at a farm on the Clanabogan Road, Omagh. “We received a call at 4.39pm of reports of cattle in a slurry tank.

NIFRS attending an animal rescue incident in Omagh. Photo: NiResponsevids Twitter.

“Four pumps, the special rescue team and large animal rescue attended. A total of three cattle were released from the slurry tank, and that was completed by 7pm,” added the spokesperson.

The NIFRS were unable to confirm the well-being of the animals following both incidents.

The Impartial Reporter contacted the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) regarding the incidents, but there was no response by the time of going to print.

This newspaper spoke to the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) Fermanagh County Chairman, Andrew Gordon, about general slurry tank safety following the two incidents in the Fermanagh and Omagh district.

Andrew explained that incidents can potentially occur when farmers remove slats from over the slurry tank to work at the slurry when cattle are still in the shed.

He also noted that due to deterioration over time, slats may break, which could result in cattle falling into a slurry tank.

“There were a lot of sheds built at a certain time, and slats do need to be replaced, over time. Slats can get rotten, or get hairline cracks.

“There are steel reinforcements in them, and they can get rusty,” he said, adding: “Sometimes a slat could break and go into the tank. It does leave it that if cattle are on it, it’s not safe.

“Farmers just have to keep on top of that maintenance, to keep an eye on their slats, and cattle walking on them.”

He also offered advice to farmers for when the slurry ban lifts on February 1, depending on ground conditions, after the closed period which began on October 15.

“When the slurry ban lifts, farmers just have to be careful to take all the safety steps they can for themselves and when cattle are on the premises.

“It’s important when a farmer is working with slurry, that when they put the mixer into the tank, that they walk away for 30 minutes and take cattle out of the shed that they’re working on, and keep them somewhere safe, too.”