The Victorian Country Fire Authority is urging North East and Border farmers to minimise fire risks when cutting, baling and storing hay this season, by checking hay is at the correct moisture level.
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CFA Commander for District 24 Brett Myers said farmers had already started cutting silage and hay this season.
"We've noticed out Dederang way there's a lot of silage that's been cut at the moment, but the issue for us is actually hay," he said.
"Given the amount of rain we're having at the moment, we're expecting it to be quite a bumper season for hay production."
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Mr Myers said hay bales could spontaneously combust if moisture inside the hay got hot enough.
"When it is baled, the baling process allows the moisture to accumulate in the hay bale and because of the tightness of the bale, it can actually generate heat," he said.
"That's obviously what we don't want to happen.
"So we are urging farmers to make sure there is the right level of moisture within the bale to avoid that risk of them catching fire."
Mr Myers said his District had dealt with a handful of hayshed fires last year, but this year the risk was heightened due to the higher than average rainfall.
He said farmers could minimise risks by ensuring hay is well cured before bailing, knowing the history of bought hay, keeping haystacks to a limited size, storing hay away from machinery and other building, watching for unusual odours such as pipe tobacco, caramel, burning or musty smells and not stacking hay right to the top of a shed to increase airflow to carry moisture away.
Farmers should check the temperature of bales regularly.
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Victoria Ellis
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
