John
M. Shutske
,
College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences
University of Minnesota Extension Service
It's
a perfect day to start wrapping up the last full week of a
long, busy harvest. There's not a cloud in the sky. The crop
is dry and bountiful. The harvest has been as hectic as any
other, but fortunately with no breakdowns or any real problems!
In fact, other than checking the oil a few times, greasing
bearings, and fueling up, your combine hasn't missed a beat.
You're congratulating yourself, because this year . . . you'll
be done with harvest before all your neighbors.
As you
turn at the end of the field, midway through your first round,
you smell smoke. You feel your stomach sink. That feeling
of anticipation and exhilaration turns to fear and you realize
that last busy week of combining could drag on into the early
winter!
You jump
out of the combine wishing you were closer to the cellular
telephone and fire extinguisher in the cab of your pickup!
Just as you hit the ground, you turn back to see bright orange
flames and smoke starting to pour out of the bottom of the
combine's engine compartment. You walk toward the smoke to
get at the engine to try and at least throw some dirt on it.
You burn your hands on the now red-hot hood latch and resign
yourself to standing back and watching your $150,000 new machine
go up in flames!
Does
this scene sound far-fetched? Probably not to most busy farmers.
Combine and tractor fires are a problem that cause over $20
million in property losses each year and millions more because
of lost time and downed crops during the busy harvest season.
Fires not only cause huge losses and waste time . . . they
also cause 40 or 50 serious injuries each year, and occasionally
a person is killed because of a farm machinery fire.
There
are two keys to preventing a disaster like the one just described:
- prevention
- preparation
in case a fire does break out
For a
fire to occur, three things must be present: air, a material
to burn, and a heat source. It's impossible to eliminate air
around a farm machine. So, farm machinery fire prevention
focuses both on keeping the machine clean of possible fire-causing
materials and eliminating all possible sources of heat that
could lead to a fire.
|
Farm
machinery fires cost millions in property damage, downtime
losses, and personal injury. |
Begin
every harvest season with a clean machine. Pay special attention
to the engine and engine compartment, since about 75% of all
machinery fires start in that area. Use a pressure washer
to remove all caked-on grease, oil, and crop residue. A clean
engine will run cooler, operate more efficiently, and greatly
reduce your chance for fire.
After
starting the season, make sure you frequently blow any dry
chaff, leaves, and other material off the machine with compressed
air. Also, clear off any wrapped plant materials on bearings,
belts, and other moving parts.
Pay close
attention to your machine operator's manual and follow all
instructions and schedules for lubrication and routine maintenance.
If you notice any leaking fuel or oil hoses, fittings, or
metal lines, make sure to replace or repair them immediately!
Combine
and tractor fires can be caused by several heat sources. The
most common is exhaust system surfaces that contact any flammable
material. Make sure your exhaust system including the manifold,
muffler, and turbocharger are in good condition and free of
leaks.
When
checking your oil and performing other daily maintenance,
quickly scan any exposed electrical wiring for damage or signs
of deterioration. Replace any worn or malfunctioning electrical
component with proper parts from your dealer. If you are blowing
fuses, or have a circuit that intermittently cuts out, it's
a good sign that there's a short or loose connection in the
system. The arcing electrical wires on a farm machine will
generate extremely high temperatures.
Also
keep an eye out for worn bearings, belts, and chains. A badly
worn bearing can glow red-hot. Any rubber belt subjected to
intense heat from a worn part can burst into flames.
Despite
your best intentions and good maintenance, a fire on a tractor
or combine can still occur. Your best source of protection
for a combine is at least one fully charged ten-pound ABC
dry chemical fire extinguisher. A five-pound unit is recommended
for tractors. Select only extinguishers with an Underwriter's
Laboratory approval. Having two extinguishers on the machine
is even better in case one malfunctions or loses pressure.
Keep one mounted in the cab, and one where it can be reached
from the ground.
Check
your extinguishers periodically, paying special attention
to the pressure gauge. To function effectively, the gauge
must show adequate pressure to expel the powder inside.
Extinguishers
should also be checked periodically by someone from your local
fire department or insurance company. Any extinguisher that
has been even partially discharged must be fully recharged
before it's used again. During even a brief discharge, the
tiny dry chemical particles will create a small gap in the
internal seal of the extinguisher valve. This tiny opening
will cause any remaining pressure to leak out in a few hours
or days.
If a
fire does break out on a machine you're operating, quickly
shut off the engine, grab your extinguisher, get out, and
get help. If you forget to grab the extinguisher, don't go
back in after it unless the fire is extremely small or confined
to an area well away from the cab.
Having
a cellular phone or two-way radio nearby will help get professional
assistance to the field more quickly.
Approach
any fire with extreme caution. Even a small fire can flare
up dramatically as you open doors, hatches, or other areas
to gain access. These types of fires are especially dangerous
when liquid fuels are involved. If possible, use the extinguisher's
flexible hose to shoot the chemical from a safe distance at
the base of any flames you see. Continue to blanket flames
to allow the fire to cool and prevent a reflash.
Remember
that it may not be possible to put out every fire. If it's
in a difficult-to-reach area or seems out of control, don't
risk the chance of injury or even death... wait for help to
arrive.
Before
resuming operation after any fire, make sure to find and correct
the cause.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
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Extension Service.
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