There is an increased fire risk during threshing operations! The Fire Department urges you to be careful!
Along with threshing operations, the number of cases where crop stubble, hay bales and agricultural machinery caught fire is increasing. The State Fire and Rescue Service (SFS) reminds that the number of fires in the agricultural sector and their devastating consequences can be reduced by taking precautions, being aware of possible risks and preventing them in a timely manner:
- after each working day, tractors and combines must be cleaned of dust;
- More attention should be paid to bearings and elements that heat up in the combine;
- in combines, the condition of the counter-cutter and chopper knives must be checked to ensure that they are not deformed and do not produce sparks;
- when using technological equipment, strictly follow the requirements of the manufacturer's technical documentation and technological regulations;
- inspect agricultural machinery, repair it if necessary, and equip engine exhaust pipes with spark arresters;
- Check that the gaskets connecting the engine manifold and exhaust pipe are free of tears and damage;
- during the threshing season STRICTLY Smoking is prohibited near the fields;
- control the temperature in haystacks and grain dryers;
- It is recommended to leave a tractor with a plow or disc harrow at the edge of the field, ready to limit the further spread of the flames by plowing the field. The plowed line of land will act as a buffer;
- inspect water sources and water intake points intended for firefighting;
- It is recommended to prepare a water barrel at the edge of the field or on the farm so that firefighters have somewhere to get water if necessary;
- to supply buildings and agricultural machinery with fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment, to check the expiration dates of existing fire extinguishers and, if necessary, to carry out their maintenance. Fire extinguishers may be used in the initial stages of a fire, of course, after assessing the situation so as not to endanger one's life and health;
- carry out inspections of electrical equipment and heating devices;
- perform inspections of lightning protection devices.
Burning fields of crops and stubble are just as dangerous as haystack fires, as they can cause injury and death to people, and the flames can spread to agricultural machinery, other vehicles, and buildings, so it is important to take precautions to prevent such fires from starting.
Fires in crop fields can start even from small sparks, so we also urge motorists not to throw cigarette butts out the window.
We remind you! In case of fire – call immediately 112!