Hay Stack Fires
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If you are seeing this message, you made need to upgrade your Flash plugin, or turn on Java Script in your browser, or upgrade your browser itself (Internet Explorer, Firefox) so you can view our videos.Hay stack fires are often the result of storing moist hay in warm temperatures. It occurs when excess moisture is retained in baled hay; this can encourage the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms. The heat which these micro-organisms produce, when coupled with very humid and hot weather, can produce temperatures inside the bale that are high enough for the bale to spontaneously combust.
The intense heat caused by hay stack fires can eat through adjacent machinery,
not to mention burn for days. Often the damaged machinery has come from overseas
and therefore replacement time can mean that work is delayed by months. The old
idiom 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' makes a lot of sense here, so it
would be prudent to store your hay separately from other expensive items and if
you have a lot of forage to store, put them in a few separate storage areas.
To minimise the chance of hay fire make sure your hay is relatively dry when first stored. Ensure the bales are stacked to allow air flow between them and that they are protected relatively well from any additional moisture.
Learn the warning signs which indicate that a hay stack fire may be about to occur:
- It is about two to seven weeks after storage of the hay;
- There has been recent rain or flooding which have dampened the bales;
- Steam condensation appears on the steel roof of the hay shed;
- Mould growth appears in and on the bales;
- Bales develop a smell similar to tobacco.
An easy way to check your bales' temperature is to put a crowbar between the bales and leave it for around two hours. If the crowbar becomes too hot to handle, then the bale is getting close to ignition point and it is best to pull apart the bales and cool them down.
To find out more fire tips visit Rural Fire Services or the NSW Farmers Association.
