Three members of a fire brigade in Cork suffered injuries to their hands and face after a barrel of liquid exploded at a fire they were fighting yesterday morning.

It is believed that Garda technical experts are to conduct a forensic examination after the blaze broke out at a farm near Macroom, Co Cork.

The firefighters were outside the shed when the incident took place and were later transferred to Cork University Hospital to receive treatment for burn injuries.

Two were later discharged, while the remaining member of the fire brigade suffered more serious burns and was kept at the hospital for further treatment.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire just before 12.55am on Sunday and members of the Macroom Fire Brigade were dispatched to the scene after 1am.

A unit from the Dunmanway Fire Brigade arrived later at the scene and spent more than two hours containing the blaze.

The farmer and his family managed to get out of the farm safe.