Start of hay season prompts safety warning

Between 30 June 2024, and 1July 2025, CFA responded to 73 haystack and hay shed fires in regional areas, with 53 per cent occurring in the west and northwest of the state.    

Haystack fires are often caused by spontaneous combustion when hay is baled with excess moisture. High moisture levels, combined with the compact nature of hay bales, can create internal heat, leading to ignition.   

David Manifold, Buloke West Group Officer, 3rdlieutenant of Jeffcott Fire Brigade, and a local farmer said there are many factors which can lead to a haystack fire. 

“What goes wrong is essentially hay is baled at a high moisture or what we have learned in recent times is leaving the hay out for longer to dry can actually increase the growth of yeast and moulds on the hay,” he said. 

“The yeast and mould levels can get so high that any ingression of water is as good as throwing a match on it.” 

David said he is utilising both new and old technologies to reduce the risk of haystack fires at his farm.  

“We are using new techniques on the machinery side to get our window shorter for bailing in sub seven days which is the key to keeping the yeasts and moulds lower,” he said.  

“We run plastic over the flooring which stops moisture from coming up into the hay which prevents damage to the hay but also prevents the risk of water ingression, particularly in heavy rainfall periods during summer. 

“The spouts on the shed are well maintained, and the downpipes are key. 

“Bunched up stacks are pretty volatile, keeping stacks well-ventilated is important.” 

David also uses a new type of temperature probe that sends temperature data to a central bay station on the farm.  

“I can check the temperature on an app on my phone at any given moment,” he said.  

“I can also get it to send me alerts so I have it set to alert me if we reach 40 and 50 degrees.”  

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan reinforced that early preparation and proper storage are essential in reducing the risk of haystack fires.  

"With a large number of haystack fires in the past financial year, the impact on farmers and their livelihoods is clear," Jason said.  

"Haystack fires can have far-reaching effects beyond individual properties, impacting neighbouring farms and emergency services.   

“Make sure you store your hay in separate stacks or in sheds away from farm equipment and other buildings to prevent the spread of fire.   

“Farmers need to ensure they're well-prepared – regular monitoring can prevent a small issue from becoming a much larger one.”  

For more information, visit CFA’s website or contact your local CFA brigade for advice on haystack safety.