Agricultural, Forestry, and Commercial Fishing (AFF) fires can result in the loss of valuable equipment, buildings, vessels, product, livestock, and even human life. Basic fire safety relies on the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate.
Highly Flammable or Combustible Material:
- Hay and Straw
- Bedding Material
- Cobwebs and dust
- Paint
- Fertilizer
- Pesticides and Herbicides
- Accelerants
- Gasoline
- Kerosene
- Oil
- Aerosol Cans
Ignition Sources:
- Cigarettes and matches
- Sparks from welding machines and machinery
- Motors
- Heaters
- Electrical Appliances
- Fence Chargers
- Electrical fixtures and wires
- Batteries
- Broken Glass
- Chemicals which may react with each other, water, or dampness
Rutgers Cooperative Extension recommends the following precautions to prevent AFF fires.
- Smoking should never be permitted in any barn, hay/bedding storage area, tack room, engine room, or lounge.
- Buildings and vessels should be raked or swept clean.
- Vacuum up cobwebs and dust regularly. Wipe dust/dirt off light fixtures, outlet covers, switches, and panel boxes.
- Weeds, twigs, and other trash should be kept mowed or picked up.
- Manure piles should be at least 20 feet away from the barn to reduce the chance of combustion fire.
- Hay/bedding storage should not be near lights, fans, electrical boxes, heaters, or outlets.
- When storing newly baled hay, care should be taken that the temperature of the bales does not get too hot. Adequate ventilation should be provided for additional drying of the hay. If too much heat builds up, spontaneous combustion is inevitable.
- Flammable substances should be kept away from ignition sources.
- Store vehicles and machinery in a separate building.
- A water hose and buckets should be available and kept solely for fire control.