BARN BURNING: Residents are being warned about the increased risk of fires right now caused by overheating hay.

According to a press release from Penn State, “A rash of barn and silo fires in the last week has an extension farm safety expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences warning farmers to be aware of — and if necessary take precautions against — blazes caused by stored crops with high moisture.”

Davis Hill, senior extension associate in agricultural safety and health, stated, “With the amount of rain we’ve been getting, crops are growing very well, but getting them dried to the correct moisture level to make ideal feed — silage or dry hay — has been challenging,” Hill stated in the article. “With the frequent, sudden onset of showers and downpours, farmers are hurrying before the rains to get their crops in. When this involves dry hay that is destined for the hay mow, it can be a serious problem.”

The article states, “All stored hay will heat to some extent, Hill noted. But wet hay ‘doesn’t know when to stop heating.’”

He recommends farmers check the hay temperatures daily if they start to reach between 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, just over normal temperatures of 100 to 120 degrees.

Stacks reaching 140 degrees should be torn down, and bales should be moved.

The article continues, “At 150-160 degrees, the hay should be pulled out of storage with a fire department on the scene, Hill said, ‘because you may have bales ignite once they hit the air.’ At 160-180 degrees, flare-ups and flash fire are probable when hot hay is exposed to the air.”

The fire department should be called immediately if the hay is more than 200 degrees.

Hay temperature can be checked with a thermal camera, or if the farmer does not have one, a steel pipe can be driven into a hay pile for 10 to 30 minutes.

If the farmer can only hold the pipe for a short time, it is approaching 130 degrees or hotter. It will be too hot to hold at 150 degrees.

Hill recommends farmers check often for the odor of smoke, as that can be a important indicator there is an issue.

He tells farmers not to go in a silo for two or three weeks — even to measure temperatures after putting hay in, to protect against carbon dioxide and/or toxic silo gas buildup.