What is the temperature for spontaneous combustion in hay?
At 185 degrees (85 degrees C) hot spots and pockets may be expected. Flames will likely develop when heating hay comes in contact with the air. 212 degrees (100 degrees C) is critical. Temperature rises rapidly above this point and hay will almost certainly ignite.
Can bales of straw spontaneously combust?
Causes of Fires in Baled Hay or Straw
Moisture content is the main factor that causes hay and straw to spontaneously combust. Hay fires are more common than straw fires, for reasons involving the type of forage, the moisture content in the stored forage, and heat production.
How can the spontaneous combustion of hay be prevented?
Dry ice, liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas pumped into the hay will prevent combustion by eliminating the oxygen from the hay mass. Spontaneous combustion is not an accident.
Can haystacks self combust?
Haystack fires can happen in any type of bale stored in a haystack. Even hay stored as single bales can spontaneously ignite under some conditions. Haystack fires can spread quickly into the surrounding area and often result in thousands of dollars of damages.
How long does it take for hay to catch fire?
According to the National Ag Safety Database, hay fires usually occur within six weeks of baling but fires have been known to start in several-year-old bales. If you need help monitoring the temperature of your hay bales, check with your local fire department and law enforcement offices.
How long will a hay bale burn?
Hay fires usually occur within six weeks of baling, but they may occur in hay several years old. Fire can occur in loose hay, small bales, large bales or in stacks.
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Table 2.
| Table 2. Temperature Interpretations | |
|---|---|
| Below 130°F | No problem |
| 130 to 140°F | No problem yet, temperature may go up or down. Recheck in a few hours. |
Can hay bales explode?
HOW? Moisture. If the hay is baled before it is totally dry, it can blow up.
How do you stop a hay fire?
Probe for hot spots and inject water through the probe to cool the hay and raise it to a moisture content that will prevent burning. Monitor the wind direction and water the roof of adjacent structures downwind of the fire if possible.
Can hay bales self ignite?
It certainly isn’t a minor incident since it can damage property and threaten lives. While hay fires can occur during transportation, they are more likely to be caused by spontaneous combustion once the bales are at the farm. Actually, wet hay is more likely to lead to spontaneous combustion than dry hay.
Can old hay self combust?
When hay’s internal temperature rises above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius), a chemical reaction begins to produce flammable gas that can ignite if the temperature goes high enough. Fire is possible in hay that’s loose, in small or large bales or stacks, and stored inside or outside.
Can moldy hay cause fire?
Temperatures should be taken from the center of the stack or “down about 8 feet in large stacks.” Not only can wet hay catch fire, but it can mold. Hartschuh says bale temperatures of 120° to 130° F often results in mold growth and makes the protein less available to animals.
Is hay a fire hazard?
Fire can occur in loose hay, small bales, large bales or in stacks. The fires can occur in hay stored inside as well as in hay stored outside. Regardless of when or where the fires occur, the most common cause is excessive moisture.