October 18, 2005
Combine fires preventable threats, farm safety specialist says
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Fire has been a threat to agriculture since powered machinery was introduced more than 150 years ago. One of the first combines used in North America was destroyed in an 1856 fire caused by an overheated bearing during a California wheat harvest.
Times have changed, but the danger remains. Because of their many hours of operation and the dry fodder that can collect on the machine, combines are especially vulnerable to fires, said Gail Deboy, a Purdue University farm safety specialist.
During hot, dry weather, crispy, parched fodder provides an excellent fuel source once a fire is ignited, Deboy said. This year's early planting led to early maturing crops and, subsequently, unusually dry foliage during harvest.
Researchers estimate 695 combine fires occur each year in the United States, at a total machinery loss of $10.5 million, Deboy said. The figure would be much higher if lost production time, crop losses and leasing of replacement machinery were added in.
"Machinery fires can be caused by a wide variety of agents," Deboy said. "Those might include overheated bearings and belts, exhaust components, clutches and brakes, electrical malfunctions, and sparks caused by damaged or improperly adjusted components and foreign material entering the processing path. Even crop material that is plugging or wrapped around drive components can be heated to the point of combustion."
As combines have gotten larger, they carry more fuel, lubricants and hydraulic oil.
"Even small leaks in any of the systems that use these flammable liquids can result in a small fire becoming a large one in seconds," Deboy said. "For example, a leak causing diesel fuel to be sprayed into the engine compartment of a tractor or combine can cause the compartment temperature to go from a normal temperature to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds. Fires of that intensity are almost impossible to extinguish before the machine is substantially damaged."
Combine fires can spread to nearby farm equipment, crops, trees and buildings, while smoke from fires can cause health problems for local residents or reduce visibility on roadways, Deboy said. Injury or death also is possible.
Several serious combine fires have occurred this harvest season, including:
• A September fire in a soybean field in Carroll County, Ind., that started with an overheated bearing. The smoke from the fire obscured the vision of motorists on a highway, leading to a six-car accident. One passenger was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital, while two drivers were transported to a local hospital.
• An October incident near Rushville, Ind. A farmer's arms were singed as he escaped the cab of his burning combine. The fire also ignited his cornfield.
• Two reported fires near Frankfort and Crown Point, Ind.
• Incidents in Iowa and Nebraska that consumed 1,400 acres of crops between them.
October is National Fire Prevention Month. Farmers can reduce the risk of farm machinery fires by practicing the following preventative measures:
• Regular machinery maintenance. "Keeping the machine clean, free of crop residue and free of fuel and oil leaks will prevent most fires from starting and spreading," Deboy said. "Regular inspection and maintenance of bearings, seals, potential crop wrap points and exhaust systems will minimize potential ignition points. Servicing equipment at the end of the day rather than the beginning of the day will help detect overheating components and even slowly smoldering fires that might erupt in the night.
"Maintaining the electrical system - especially components that draw heavy electrical loads such as starter motors, remote actuators, and heating and cooling systems - can help eliminate ignition sources. Fuses that blow regularly should be considered an important warning sign that a circuit is overheating somewhere."
• Installing portable fire extinguishers on every large piece of agricultural machinery. Extinguishers should be capable of putting out a variety of fires. Large harvesting units should have at least two 10-pound, type ABC extinguishers on board. Fire extinguishers should be inspected and serviced on a regular basis.
• Keeping a cell phone or two-way radio handy to contact emergency personnel should a fire start. Every second is important in keeping a small fire from becoming an inferno.
"Every fire has a cause and involves three elements: an ignition source, fuel and oxygen," Deboy said. "By removing any one of these elements, a fire is prevented. As you examine the combine or any other agricultural machine or building, consider the potential for each element and where they are likely to come together to form a fire."
Additional information on preventing combine fires is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Ag Safety Database. The database is available online.
Source: Gail Deboy, (765) 496-2377, deboy@ecn.purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Related Web site:
Purdue Agricultural Safety and Health page
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