Image: Winchelsea Fire Brigade
CFA is reminding farmers of the importance of year-round machinery maintenance following a haystack fire believed to have been caused by a mechanical failure.
The incident occurred at a property in Ombersley, near Winchelsea, on Wednesday 12 August. Ten CFA fire trucks responded to the incident, which took more than three hours to bring under control.
Incident Controller and Winchelsea Captain Kaylene Stocks said crews faced significant challenges.
“The fire was quickly spreading from bale to bale, and there was also the possibility of the fodder being impacted by embers,” Kaylene said.
With around 200 hay bales at risk, crews worked alongside the property owners to prevent the fire spreading further.
“We had members go down with a hose and pull out all the material to create an earth break between the unburnt and the burnt hay,” Kayelene said.
“We managed to save around 150 hay bales, along with the fodder.
“Our crews did a great job mitigating the losses and preventing the fire from spreading further.”
“It’s definitely a reminder to have a look at the upkeep of your machinery all year round and not just during the hotter months.”
While cooler and wetter winter conditions can reduce the broader risk of grass and bushfires, fires can still start on farms when machinery is not properly maintained.
CFA also reminds farmers to have adequate firefighting resources available while machinery is being operated.
Farm machinery fire safety:
- Make machinery inspection and maintenance part of your routine throughout the year.
- Regularly inspect moving components for wear, damage or excessive heat.
- Keep machinery clear of hay, straw, grass, dust and other combustible material.
- Check engines, exhausts and other hot components for material build-up.
- Repair mechanical faults and defects before operating machinery.
- Stop work if machinery is making unusual noises, vibrating, overheating or otherwise operating abnormally.
- Have appropriate firefighting equipment readily available when carrying out farm work.
