Haystacks can be a fire risk

CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said with the amount of rain the state has seen this year, coupled with some hot and humid weather, haystacks in sheds and outside could self-ignite.

“Spontaneous combustion is the leading cause of haystack fires in Victoria. Stacks become dangerous when heating approaches about 70 degrees Celsius and can rapidly reach ignition point,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Farmers should also be careful not to walk across the top of severely heated stacks as they could collapse inwards due to unseen charring in the middle.”

CFA Hume Regional Manager Alan Davies said farmers who have had the bottom layer of their haystacks or rows of bales stored in paddocks inundated by recent rain could find the stacks may start heating, leading to mouldy hay which poses a real danger of spontaneous combustion.

“Haystack fires also pose a great risk to properties because they can spread quickly into the surrounding area and often result in thousands of dollars of damages,” Mr Davies said.

CFA Operations Officer Peter Brereton said that farmers should actively monitor haystacks for heat but be aware that this was only one factor in preventing loss.

“Using a probe to check your stacks is a bit hit and miss and it can give you a false sense of security,” he said “It only takes one bale in a stack to heat and you can lose the lot,”

“Farmers should aim to minimise risk at the time of baling and stacking - in particular by ensuring hay is fully cured at the time of baling,” Mr Brereton said.

To help prevent haystack fires, farmers should:

• Use a probe to test for heat and also look out for other factors including steam rising from stacks, mould or unusual smells or slumping of the stack.
• Allow for airflow by not stacking hay right up against the roof of sheds
• Store hay in multiple locations or stacks to avoid large losses if a fire occurs
• Never carry out work such as welding or grinding near haystacks
• Maintain fuel breaks around stacks.

For further information please follow the link to Hay and Fire Safety or visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au. If you would like a free copy of our ‘On the Land’ booklet (agricultural fire management guidelines), please call the Victorian Bushfire Information line on 1800 240 667.