Police are hunting the fire-raisers who started a massive blaze on a Perthshire farm.
Flames could be seen lighting up the sky for up to 10 miles away as more than 1,000 hay bales burned at Drumkilbo Farm near Meigle in the early hours of Monday.
It took fire crews from across Tayside almost 12 hours to contain and extinguish the blaze, which forced the closure of a stretch of the road.
Firefighters said that if left unattended the fields could have burnt out of control for up to a week.
An investigation has already been launched into the fire, which officers said was being treated as malicious.
The deliberate nature of the fire stunned staff at Bruce Farms, a family firm that produces soft fruit, peas, beans, potatoes, cereals and record-breaking pedigree Charolais cattle.
The Bruce family have been farming in Perthshire for four generations and the company is managed by father and son team Bill and Geoff Bruce.
Director Geoff Bruce told The Courier: ”This was undoubtedly deliberate. The hay was carefully baled and stacked in September and has sat there undisturbed ever since. These bales were waiting to be used this month and would have been spread on our soft fruit crops.
“To have someone just strike a match and set them alight is hugely frustrating and it will be time-consuming to clean up the mess. This has also been hugely upsetting for the farm hands who work day and night to get things right.”
It is understood the bales could have been worth upwards of £10,000, but Mr Bruce confirmed they and the polytunnel had been insured.
He also praised the emergency services for their swift response and their efforts to extinguish the fire.
”The fire brigade were excellent as always,” he said.
Firefighters were called at around 12.45am, with crews from Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie and Alyth among the first on the scene. Upon arrival the incident commander was informed that the fire was located in a 25m long polytunnel that was being used to grow strawberries and involved around 1,000 bales of straw.
The fire had been brought under control by around 2.30am, but crews remained on the scene throughout the night and Monday morning dampening down the area to extinguish any remaining hot spots. They were assisted by farm staff, who were able to deploy a mechanical excavator.
The fire forced the closure of the A94 between the B954 Strathmore Place junction in Meigle and the Eassie junction for some hours as thick smoke billowed over the road.
The circumstances leading up to the incident are now the subject of a joint investigation being conducted by Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have information regarding the fire to call 0300 111 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.