Preventing Farm Equipment Fires

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Preventing Farm Equipment Fires Fire Extinguishers those visiting and not familiar with the area. Nebraska Forest Service Fires on farm and If it becomes necessary to use a fire ranch equipment are extinguisher, follow these steps: not uncommon, so 1. THINK all machinery should 2. Pull the safety pin contain an approved 3. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire fire extinguisher 4. Slowly squeeze the handle AND Preventing of adequate size. 5. Sweep the spray from side to side. The cost of a fire DO NOT discharge the entire fire extinguisher Farm extinguisher is minimal initially. Check to see if the fire is out. If not, Equipment when compared to you will have more extinguishing agent to the replacement use. cost of a tractor or Fires combine. Always keep yourself between the fire and a path to safety. Fire extinguishers should be easily accessible. On equipment place them in For more information the operator compartment. Pick-ups and trucks should have a fire extinguisher within Nebraska Forest Service easy reach of the driver. Always have a fire Rural Fire Protection Program extinguisher on hand when using torches P.O. Box 830815 and welders. Lincoln, NE 68583-0815 (402) 472-2944 All fire extinguishers should be checked (402) 472-2964 (Fax) weekly, if not more often, to make certain www.nfs.unl.edu they are properly charged. Dry powder extinguishers should be removed and turned upside down several times to Written by Bob Vogltance and Larry Wiles, prevent the powder from becoming Nebraska Forest Service. packed. Cover and combine photos courtesy University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Fuel tank photo courtesy Mary Schlegelmilch. Every farm and ranch in Nebraska In Case of Fire operates with multiple pieces of When a fire is discovered, call the fire expensive agricultural equipment. department immediately. DO NOT attempt Unfortunately many of these machines to fight the fire before calling the fire are damaged or destroyed by fire department. Those precious minutes spent each year. Most, if not all, of these attempting to extinguish a fire can mean a Nebraska equipment fires are preventable. delay in the arrival of the fire department Forest and could result in a fire becoming much Service more serious. Keep the fire department telephone The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not number posted prominently near the discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, telephone. Keep the directions to your farm color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, or ranch posted near the telephone for national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation. RFP08-07 Machinery Fires What to Do Follow these safety practices: Checking for fire hazards before starting Preventive maintenance is the key to work each day will reduce the chance preventing many of the fires which occur • Never refuel of costly fire to expensive equipment. All on farm and ranch equipment. Good equipment equipment needs to be checked for: preventive maintenance not only prolongs with the engine equipment life but also reduces fire hazards. running. Always • Any build up of crop residue around the Here is what YOU can do to prevent shut engine off. engine, exhaust system, belts and chains. equipment fires: • Allow hot • Damaged exhaust system components. engines • Keep all bearings and gears well • Worn or badly frayed drive belts. to cool 15 lubricated to prevent heat buildup. minutes before • The odor of burning electrical wiring. • Remove crop residue from areas prone to refueling. • Worn or out of alignment moving parts generate ‘normal’ heat. that can indicate a lack of lubricant. • Extinguish all • Replace worn and broken belts as soon open flames • Signs of leaking fluids, oil and fuel. as discovered. and smoking • Keep lubricants at proper levels. materials before refueling. Some types of machinery found on the farm and ranch can present a special type of • Repair any leaks in fuel systems. • If fuel spills on an engine, wipe away any fire hazard. Elevators, conveyers and augers • Repair or replace damaged or worn out excess and allow the fumes to dissipate. need to be checked before and during their exhaust systems. In addition to a good • Never put flammable liquids in glass or use for: exhaust system, a spark arrester can non-approved plastic containers. be installed to catch burning particles. • Friction on belts and/or worn belts. They are easy to install and require little • Signs of discolored or hot metal near maintenance. Vehicles bearings. • Repair damaged electrical wiring. Don’t forget the pickups or cars used • Crop residue near heat producing parts. around the farm. Faulty exhaust systems and • Keep oily rags in covered metal catalytic converters can cause a wildfire in • Excessive buildup of grain dust on containers to prevent spontaneous areas with tall vegetation. bearings. combustion. • Manifolds and exhaust pipes can easily Combines and balers can present other • Monitor static electricity, especially if reach temperatures of 500°F to 1000°F. types of problems unique to their operation. large amounts of grain dust are present. Dry grass will ignite within minutes at Operators of these specialized machines temperatures as low as 400°F. should check for: Safe Fueling • Catalytic converters reach temperatures • The buildup of combustible crop residue Too often during the busy planting or of 1400°F to 1600°F and can ignite dry around the engine and exhaust system. harvesting seasons on the farm and ranch, vegetation, such as tall grass, weeds or • Concealed drive belts and pulleys which safe fueling practices are ignored in an stubble, instantly. effort to save a little time. The few seconds can contribute to the accumulation of • Vehicles with low ground clearance are saved are insignificant when compared crop residue which can overheat due to especially prone to causing wildfire. Keep to the loss of expensive farm equipment or friction. all vehicles in good repair. many weeks or months spent in a hospital • Electrical wiring and connectors can burn ward due to carelessness. become worn or frayed resulting in sparks which can ignite grain dust or fuel vapors. The Nebraska Forest Service: Improving peoples’ lives by protecting, utilizing and enhancing Nebraska’s tree and forest resources..
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