A safety message has been issued by the fire service after a potentially huge barn fire was prevented in Builth Wells recently.

On Wednesday, July 24, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s (MAWWFRS) Farm Liaison Officer, Jeremy Turner, attended a farm in Builth Wells as they had a large quantity of hay bales with dangerously high temperature readings.

Visiting the farm with his bale stack tester and thermal imaging camera, Mr Turner met Mr and Mrs Jones on the family-run farm and discussed the numbers of bales currently being stored, the timeframe of when the bales were baled and how long they had been stacked in storage. 

During hisvisit, the sweet sickly smell associated with overheating bales was noticeably present across the farm’s yard.

During a closer inspection of the bale stack, which consisted of approximately 60 large square hay bales, there were clear signs of overheating, such as sagging in the centre of the stack, some bales beginning to break down and moisture around the gaps between bales which included wetness, mould and fungi. While viewing the stack through the thermal imaging camera, hot areas around the gaps in the bales were identified with temperatures in excess of 36°C.

While testing the bales with a probe, Mr Turner found that the stack was at critical risk of spontaneously combusting, due to temperature readings between 95-100°C - the highest temperatures he had ever recorded.

It was decided that the bales would need to be removed from the building they were being stored in and due to the risk of the bales bursting into flames as they were being removed, and the farm’s remote location, two fire trucks and a water bowser were requested to attend as a precaution.

Once the vehicles had arrived and all equipment had been set up, the farmers began removing the bales from the barn and placed them in a nearby field under the supervision of MAWWFRS crew members who were equipped with charged hose reel jets. Thankfully, despite large plumes of steam coming from the bales during their removal, none of them ignited.

Mr Turner was then informed of another nearby farm, owned by the same farmer, that had a larger stack of bales that had been baled and stored around the same time as the one at this address.  After travelling to the other farm and testing the stack, concerns were raised over its high moisture content of 80 per cent and maximum temperature readings of 97°C – which were well in excess of the safe parameters. Crew members and the farmer proceeded to carry out the same procedure.

Farm Liaison Officer Jeremy Turner said: “I have no doubt that without the diligence of the farmer and steps taken subsequently that this would have resulted in two large barn fires, which would have been hampered by their remote location, limited access and lack of water supplies on-site.

“MAWWFRS has seen an increase in the number of barn fires across our Service area recently, which has most likely to be a result of the short spells of fine weather which has limited the windows of opportunity to make suitably dried hay.  This has led farmers to carry out ‘snatch harvests’ and we often find that hay stored with a higher moisture content will show signs of overheating between 4-6 weeks after being stacked.

“I would urge all farmers to keep a close eye on their bales, especially during this timeframe, and to contact MAWWFRS to request a free bale temperature check if they have any concerns that their bales may be overheating.”