Key messages
Harversters
- CFA attends an average of 41 harvest-related fires each year.
- The most common cause of harvester fires is material collecting on hot engine components such as the manifold, exhaust, and turbocharger. Other causes can include worn or seized bearings.
- The key to avoiding harvester fires is diligence in clean-down and inspection. Postpone paddock work during the highest fire-risk periods. On hot, dry days, exercise extreme caution before harvesting, grinding, welding, slashing or mowing.
- Check the Fire Danger Rating against the Voluntary Grain Harvesting Guide before harvesting.
- Check for total fire ban or severe weather warnings and current fire incidents and follow recommendations.
- Avoid driving vehicles and motorbikes through dry grass or crops - the risk from the hot exhaust system is high. Driving vehicles with catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters through dry grass and crops can cause grass fires.
- Make it part of your routine to check for straw or grass build-up, and hot bearings.
- Check machinery to ensure that spark arrestors are maintained.
- Prepare strategic breaks to stop fires entering or leaving your property or spreading to other paddocks.
- Run regular maintenance checks on farm machinery.
- Monitor machinery regularly during operations.
- Monitor weather conditions throughout the day and stop operations if it changes.
- Have the appropriate firefighting equipment in place. When working in crops or paddocks you’re required by law, to have a 9-litre water pressured extinguisher on hand.
Haystacks
- CFA attends dozens of haystack fires each year.
- Spontaneous ignition is the leading cause of haystack fires in Victoria, and just one damp bale is enough to ignite a haystack.
- Green or damp hay is susceptible to overheating.
- When the internal temperature of hay reaches 55°C, a chemical reaction begins to produce flammable gas that can lead to ignition.
- Haystack fires are also caused by sparks from machinery and equipment, and embers from burn offs or bushfires.
For more information on crop and farm machinery fires, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/farming
For more information on haystack fires, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/hay
Page last updated: Friday, 27 December 2024 9:49:22 AM