Foam helps area firefighters put out smoldering hay silos

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Last week, the Schwartz Dairy Farm avoided a disaster thanks to a quick response and an innovative firefighting technique using foam.

The dairy operation near Gordonville suffered a fire early Wednesday morning in a silo filled with a hay feed mixture. The Gordonville Fire Protection District was without its chief and assistant chief that day, so the first firefighter on the scene, John Peters, acted as incident commander.

Peters immediately called in assistance from the Delta and Whitewater fire departments. Together, the three departments used a foam-spreading technique, developed primarily for forest fires, that saturated and smothered the fire in the silo. The foam was mixed in a tank, then fed through a hose into the top of the silo.

"I was comfortable we'd get it out using the foam," said Delta training officer John Sachen. "We were using something that has been tested for this type of activity."

To put out fires, rural and small municipal fire departments depend on water, which is labor- and equipment-intensive. The foam uses less water, which also helps lessen fire and water damage and reduces environmental and financial effects of the fire.

In fires fueled by cloth, paper, wood or plant materials, Class A foam is used. Class B foam is used to combat chemical-fueled fires.

Common problemOwner Joe Schwartz called the fire department once he spotted smoke coming from his silo shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday. Perry first arrived on the scene a few minutes later. By using the foam, firefighters contained the situation in a few hours.

Farm worker Dale Atchely said only a small amount of the hay was damaged. The leftover hay was being used in a feed mixture for cattle a few days afterward.

"It burned it like charcoal on the sides," he said. "There were just a few hot spots, and the foam dissipated away. We probably could have used it that afternoon, but we waited to make sure the fire was out."

The foam quickly biodegrades. Because its concentrate is added to water at such a small percentage, it is considered safe to animals and humans.

What happened at the Schwartz Dairy Farm is not uncommon, Sachen said. The silo had a shaft rising straight up through the middle, allowing air to move through the silage.

Sachen said Delta has also used the foam over the past six years to combat various farm fires, including fires in cotton modules.

"Silos are more difficult because of the height issue," Sachen said. "The major difficulty is there's an opening down the middle like a doughnut. When the fire gets in that, there's no way to get anyone in to fight it."

How silo fires start Spontaneous combustion in hay silage usually occurs within the first two months of storage. The hay can dry out if air leaks in, creating a the risk of fires all year long.

Heating occurs when moisture, oxygen and organic matter are present together to support the growth of bacteria and mold. This growth creates a temperature peak of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, a chemical process called the Maillard Reaction can occur, producing even more heat. This reaction can sustain itself and doesn't require oxygen. Gases produced by the reaction can ignite if they reach a high enough temperature and are exposed to air.

A probe will help farmers assess the likelihood of a fire. The simplest test is to stick an iron or copper rod deep into the center of the silage and leave it for about an hour. If it is almost too hot to hold when removed, there could be a fire.

Temperatures above 180 degrees Fahrenheit mean the material will eventually char, smolder or burn. In most cases a fire is burning before anyone notices the signs of heating.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160