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Farming Fire Safety
Special Areas Board Fire Services often sees an increase in bale stack fires during runs of hot, hot, hot weather! Here’s how you can reduce your risks and keep that valuable resource safe this season:
🌞 Check your bale stacks during hot weather (25+) to make sure they are not creating a fire hazard on your farm. Bale stacks can sometimes accumulate significant amounts of moisture -especially if they are stacked tightly. High temperatures and moisture levels can result in spontaneous combustion of stored feed, especially green or hotter feed.
🌡 Here’s a tip from our SAB Fire Chief – make sure you check bale temperatures in the mornings when ambient temperatures are lower. You can use a heat gun, bale probe, or any other tool that gives you a temperature reading. Make sure you check bales in the inside of your stacks – these ones are likely to heat up the most.
🚜 If you find a hot bale, make sure you open your bale stack up and remove any hot or heating bales. Move them to a location with minimal vegetation and away from any other combustibles or structures. If you need assistance controlling any fire hazards, please contact your local fire department or Special Areas Fire Services.
🧯 Split any large feed stacks into smaller groupings in multiple locations. This will help reduce your risk if any bales do heat up or create a fire hazard. Storing feed so any accumulated moisture can evaporate out will also reduce risk of bales heating up.
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