It may seem to you that there have been more barn fires than usual this year – and you would be right.
In a recent press release, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) warned that hay cut during the dry and hot conditions experienced in late May may have been baled prematurely, without allowing the stems to fully dry out.
This damp hay is particularly susceptible to heating and spontaneous combustion. The majority of hay combustion incidents occur within the first three months of storage.
Reports of hay heating in storage began to surface in mid-June, and media outlets across the Province have since reported an increase in farm structure and hay fires compared to previous years.
OMAFRA is urging farmers who have stored hay baled in May to check their stock daily using thermometers until September to ensure that it is not heating. Due to the remaining moisture being trapped inside the stem, traditional hay moisture probes are not a reliable indicator of potential issues.
Furthermore, OMAFRA aims to notify fire departments providing coverage in rural areas about the noticeable increase in hay-related fires. In light of this development, fire departments are encouraged to conduct educational and preventive activities within their service areas, raising awareness among farmers regarding the potential heightened fire risks associated with hay storage.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
