Fire warning for farmers

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan is reminding farmers and community members to take extra caution this harvest season and be responsive to imminent dangers.

“We are entering a more standard summer fire season this year, so we know there will be a large amount of dry fine fuel ready to burn as the vegetation continues to dry out,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we encounter a large number of fires igniting from farm machinery and vehicles each year in Victoria, and last year was no different, which saw CFA volunteers respond to 41 of them between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

“Many of our volunteers are farmers themselves, so we understand the pressure that harvesting-related fires pose to them and the community in regard to both their safety and profits.”

Mr Heffernan said awareness was key to avoiding harvester fires, and farmers needed to be cleaning and inspecting equipment thoroughly before use.

“We know how quickly small fires can spread to nearby paddocks, so it is imperative that our farmers are prepared before jumping on the harvest,” he said.

Safety tips

• The most common cause of harvester fires is material collecting on hot engine components such as the manifold, exhaust and turbocharger.

• Make it part of your routine to check for straw or grass build-up and hot bearings.

• Make sure your machinery is free of faults and mechanical defects and carrying a water fire extinguisher.

• Postpone paddock work during the highest fire-risk periods.

• On hot, dry days, exercise extreme caution before harvesting, grinding, welding, slashing or mowing.

• The key to avoiding harvester fires is diligence in maintenance, such as clean-down and inspection.

• During paddock operations, have the appropriate firefighting equipment in place.

• You’re required by law to have a nine-litre water-pressured extinguisher on hand.

• Avoid driving vehicles and motorbikes through dry grass or crop — the risk from the hot exhaust system is high.