Combine
& Tractor Fire Safety
|
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.
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| 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. |
