Stored grain fires pose significant risks to both farm and commercial grain operations, potentially leading to extensive damage and financial loss. This guide offers strategies for effectively managing grain fires to preserve salvage value, ensure worker safety, and maintain the integrity of storage facilities.
1. Understand the impacts of grain fires
- Financial impact: Grain fires disrupt operations, leading to decreased profits and increased expenses. While insurance may cover some costs, there are also uninsured costs such as diverted management efforts, equipment costs, lost revenue, and potential fines.
- Injury or death: Grain fires can cause severe injuries or fatalities due to explosions, burns, suffocation, smoke inhalation, and structural collapse. Proper safety precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential.
- Collateral damage: Grain fires can damage nearby structures and equipment, lead to loss of customers, damage reputation, and result in loss of community or financial support.
2. Recognize early indicators of grain fires
- Upright storage structures:
- Smoke: Visible smoke from aeration fans, vents, or wall openings
- Smell: A sour or smoky smell suggests out-of-condition grain
- Rising temperatures: High or rising temperatures in specific areas
- Elevated CO levels: High carbon monoxide levels can predict hot spots
- Flat storage buildings, grain storage bunkers, and ground piles:
- Smoke: Visible smoke or fire from aeration fans, roof vents, or the surface of the pile
- Smell: A sour or smoky smell from aeration system exhaust points
- Thermal imaging: Drones with thermal imaging cameras can detect hot spots
3. Contain the fire effectively
- Shut off air supply: Cover all aeration ducts and fan openings.
- Avoid pressure build-up: Do not seal the structure in a way that causes pressure to build inside.
- Turn off utilities: Immediately shut off power, gas and other utilities as needed.
- Use water and foam cautiously: These may not always be effective and should be used judiciously.
4. Notification and reporting
- Urgent situations:
- Initiate the facility’s emergency action plan
- Dial 911 and get first responders on the way
- Account for all workers and assess the need for rescue or treatment of injuries
- Report the claim to your insurance provider as soon as possible
- Non-urgent situations:
- After containment actions, contact your agent or insurance provider to report the claim
- Notify the local fire chief and a grain salvage contractor if necessary
5. Collaborate with professionals and take safety precautions
- Grain salvage contractors: They help retain as much good grain as possible from a storage structure affected by fire. They locate, control, manage, and extinguish the fire, often coordinating with other entities on-site.
- Fire department: The primary objective of the fire department should be to control and prevent the spread of fire until a grain salvage contractor arrives. Upon arrival, they should be made aware of the limitations of using water to extinguish grain fires and the risks of grain dust explosions.
- Safety precautions: Be aware of the risks such as explosions, flash fires, and hazardous atmospheres. Always use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Do not hesitate to seek professional guidance when needed.
Conclusion
Effective grain fire management requires understanding the risks, recognizing early indicators, and implementing appropriate response strategies. By following best practices, grain operators can protect their assets, ensure worker safety, and maintain operational integrity in the face of fire-related challenges.
Learn more
Looking for more about stored grain fires? Check out this white paper from Nationwide Risk Management and the Nationwide Grain Advisory Board which offers a comprehensive guide on effectively managing grain fires to preserve salvage value, ensure worker safety, and help maintain the integrity of storage facilities. In addition, use the toolbox talk to help educate your team on the best practices for managing these fires.
Grain fire management: Strategies for risk mitigation and safety
Toolbox talk: Grain fire management
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