General News
22 January, 2025
Farmers alerted to haystack fire risk
Wimmera Mallee residents are being asked to keep an eye out for over-heated hay.
Agriculture Victoria extension officer Michele Jolliffe says every hay season several Victorian haystacks spontaneously combust.
"Once the hay has been stacked it’s important to regularly monitor it for heating and act quickly," Ms Jolliffe said.
there's still nothing cost-effective to help monitor the internal temperatures of haystacks."
Ms Jolliffe said signs of heating included steam condensation on a hayshed ceiling, mould growth, acrid fumes, and hot, humid air at the top of a stack.
"Most heating will occur over the first one or two weeks but has been known to reach ‘flash point’ up to eight weeks after baling," she said.
and left for two hours.
"After two hours the crowbar can be removed and felt by hand to give a rough guide of the internal stack temperature.
"The temperature of the bale is up to about 50°C if you can hold the crowbar without discomfort.
"If you can't hold the bar at all the temperature is above 70°C and fire is a real possibility, so treat the stack with caution."
Ms Jolliffe said any haystack found to be dangerously hot should be pulled apart as quickly as possible, bearing in mind that doing so would enable oxygen to reach the hotspot, potentially causing ignition.