What is a spontaneous combustion hay fire?
There is a tragedy that strikes farmers across the United States. It seemingly comes out of nowhere, but once it starts it is impossible to stop. This phenomenon is the spontaneous combustion of hay fire. It occurs when wet hay is put up and is often compounded by stacking. The damp hay generates bacteria and molds. This chemical reaction produces heat raising the temperature of the bale. As this chemical reaction continues and the heat increases, the hay becomes susceptible to inflammation. With the wrong amount of oxygen and high temperatures, the hay will ignite spontaneously combusting. If a farmer is unsure about the temperature of a hay bale this can be checked with a simple candy thermometer. If the temperature of the bale is above 150 degrees Fahrenheit it is hitting dangerous levels. You may be wondering how common these types of fires are. In the United States in 2021 there were 113 recorded barn fires. Of these fires, less than 14% were categorized as an obscure ca...