Hay balers - hidden fire danger
Each year we hear about hay stack fires in sheds and paddocks and unfortunately, equipment.
However, not so commonly thought of are hay baler fires.
During every hay harvest, the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) attends several baler fires, many of which could have been avoided, or at least with reduced damage.
Balers are often burnt-out in these fires, but sometimes the tractor is also partly or completely destroyed, neither cheap pieces of machinery.
No doubt, there are other unreported costs such as paddock fires caused by the baler fire spreading into nearby wind rows and surrounding dry paddocks, especially if there is wind. Plus there is always the dangerous prospect of personal injury.
Most baler fires are caused by over-heating of damaged/worn bearings and often not noticed until the hay bale and baler are well alight, unless the operator just happened to turn around when fire first started.
What should be known by farmers and contractors, it is compulsory by law in Victoria for all tractors to have a water extinguisher with a minimum nine litre capacity attached to the tractor during the fire restriction period.
This can be either a pressurised water extinguisher or a knapsack, although the latter are difficult to attach on many late model tractors.
This simple tool is a no brainer when operating equipment with hot bearings in hot dry, windy conditions in dry flammable grass.
An extinguisher could be critical to nipping a baler fire in the bud or at least delaying it spreading too much before the CFA arrives.
Another recommendation includes carrying a minimum two kg dry powder extinguisher for several reasons.
These are useful for electrical and hydraulic oil fires, often starting as a result of the baler fire melting wires or hydraulic hoses.
Embers often are blown into nooks and crannies around and under the tractor cabin and other hard-to-get-at places.
Spraying water into these spots sometimes does not reach all crevices or deep enough where dust and loose dry material has built up.
The water can sometimes evaporate before extinguishing the fire in some locations.
A powder extinguisher will spread further and is more effective in these scenarios.
Electrical shorts can also start fires and even though the electrics are usually automatically shut down on many of the latest model tractors, fires can sometimes short circuit this safety process. Water won’t extinguish these fires. Separate the tractor from the baler as quickly as possible, because baler fires can get out of control quickly.
This rapidly generates extreme heat, so approaching the drawbar is almost impossible (without severe risk of burns) and metal components heat quickly making uncoupling of hydraulic hose very difficult and extremely dangerous.
If there is no extinguisher available, this is a must, to avoid destroying the tractor as well.
Clean the tractor each day to minimise build -up of flammable material, this will occur during the harvest operation, but the less build-up the better, particularly near hot parts like the engine manifold, exhaust and turbocharger.