Hundreds of bales lost as CFA urges caution

Farmers in Bass Coast and South Gippsland are being told to check stored hay, as the CFA warns that bales containing too much moisture can heat up and catch fire.

The danger starts inside.

Hay that’s been baled before it’s dry enough can generate heat because it’s sitting tightly packed in a stack, eventually leading to spontaneous combustion.

CFA issued the official warning on October 1, with haymaking under way in northwest and western Victoria and two recent fires affecting hundreds of bales.

It adds another layer of concern for locals following warnings from Wonthaggi firefighters about grass growth drying out as warmer weather arrives.

But stored hay presents a different risk, as the fires could potentially develop within the bales themselves.

CFA District 18 Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Shane Bailey said moisture levels were a big part of the equation.

“Hay that is baled with too much moisture can generate heat as it sits in a stack, and under the wrong conditions that heat can build to the point where a fire starts.”

He said landowners should keep checking their hay after it’s been stored.

“It’s important that people storing hay understand the risks and regularly monitor their stacks, particularly in the weeks after baling.”

About 400 bales were lost in a haystack fire at Donald on September 3.

Incident Controller at the scene, Brod Harrison, said much of the fire was initially hidden.

“When we first arrived, there wasn’t a lot of fire. It was mostly smouldering inside the bales, but once we pulled them apart, they started to flare up,” he said.

“About half a dozen nearby farmers brought machinery to help separate the burning bales from the ones that could be saved.”

Another haystack fire at Lockington on September 12 affected around 120 bales.

Mr Bailey said haystacks needed good ventilation, with smaller, separated stacks preferable to storing a large amount together.

And keeping sheds weatherproof matters.

Maintaining gutters and downpipes can help prevent water reaching stored hay.

Performing a temperature check with traditional probes or technology that provides remote readings can also help.

“If a haystack is getting unusually hot, that can be a warning sign that something is happening inside the stack and it needs to be taken seriously,” Mr Bailey said.

Wonthaggi Fire Brigade First Lieutenant Jamie Moresco previously told the Sentinel-Times that people working around dry vegetation should assess the risks before using machinery.

“Just do a risk assessment of what you’re about to do and see if you can change to do that in a safe way,” he said.