CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 04/02/19

Poultry litter can cause fires if stored improperly

By Adam Speir

Barn fires have long been known as a potential hazard of storing hay, but a recent barn fire in Madison County, Georgia, revealed another hazard — poultry litter.

It’s never good to get a call from the fire department, but at the end of January, the local fire station called the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in Madison County to discuss a fire at a nearby farm. The fire had started in a barn used to house poultry litter, hay and farm equipment. 

The firefighters needed to know the best way to safely put out the fire while handling the poultry litter from an agricultural standpoint. I was curious as to how this all started; I was familiar with hay catching fire, but I was not aware of instances of fire caused by litter. While firefighters were still dealing with the fire later that day, I visited the farm to try to determine what happened.

The barn was an open-sided metal structure used to house hay for cattle, farm equipment, and poultry litter from the grower's poultry houses. My initial thoughts were that the hay had started the fire, but the timing didn’t make sense — hay would be more of an issue during haying season, when hay is fresh. 

In this case, the poultry litter was the origin of the fire, but the litter itself never seemed to be engulfed in flames. The litter was stacked against wooden walls that separated it from about 100 rolls of hay. I believe the temperature inside the poultry litter rose high enough that the wooden wall became hot enough to ignite the hay. The fire destroyed much of the barn’s roof, damaged farm equipment and destroyed nearly all of the hay.

Neither the farmer nor the firefighters were hurt, and the fire provided a teachable moment for poultry producers and others who store hay and poultry litter. 

A few tips from UGA Extension will hopefully help reduce the risk of a structure fire and potential injury or loss of property.

  • Understand that litter and hay generate heat — Poultry litter and hay contain living organisms, or microscopic “bugs,” that generate heat as a result of their activities. In certain circumstances this heat can cause material like hay to spontaneously combust.
  • Moisture is the issue — Fresh poultry litter can contain a fair amount of moisture. As the litter composts, much of that moisture evaporates or is used in the biological activities that generate heat. Litter with higher moisture levels can generate more heat. If litter is stored in open-air structures, place it where it won’t get wet. Remember, wetting litter won’t keep it from catching fire; the opposite is usually true.
  • Don’t mix or stack wet material with dry material — In most situations where litter has caused a fire, fresh, wet litter was stacked against old, drier litter. Ignition can happen at this boundary. This process is known as the “heat of adsorption.” Heat releases as water vapor is adsorbed by the dry material. Keep fresh litter separate from old litter, either in a separate windrow or a different pile.
  • Limit pile sizes — The larger the pile, the higher the chance for heat to build up to potential fire-causing levels. Pile height should not exceed 7 feet. If litter is piled against a wooden wall, the pile height should be limited to 4 feet. (I prefer litter not be stacked against a wooden wall. Leave a gap for air flow to dissipate heat.) Also, do not compact piles by driving equipment on them or packing them tightly with equipment.
  • Monitor temperatures by investing in a high-quality temperature probe — Using a temperature probe to frequently monitor pile temperatures could prevent the loss of structures to a fire. Once any litter pile begins to reach temperatures near 190 degrees Fahrenheit or the pile begins to smolder, remove the material from the barn and contact the fire department or call 911. Disturbing a smoldering litter pile can expose it to oxygen and start a fire.

 

Poultry litter is a valuable by-product for farmers and is used as a soil amendment and fertilizer. Proper storage is important to keep a beneficial product from creating a fire hazard. 

Following these guidelines and working with your local fire department to discuss emergency accessibility to your farm can make life safer on your land.

Robert Adam Speir is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Madison County.

Authors:
Adam Speir
Experts/Sources:
Adam Speir
Poultry litter is a valuable by-product for farmers and is used as a soil amendment and fertilizer. But stored improperly, it can create barn fires like the one that destroyed this farmer's hay. Smoldering poultry litter is removed from a barn in Madison County, Georgia. The litter was stacked against wooden walls that separated it from about 100 rolls of hay. It is believed that the temperature inside the poultry litter rose high enough that the wooden wall became hot enough to ignite the hay. The fire destroyed much of the barn’s roof, damaged farm equipment and destroyed nearly all of the hay.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Top research stories of 2024 CAES News
Top UGA research stories of 2024 12/23/24 Olivia Randall
As the new year approaches, it’s time to reflect on 2024, a year full of exciting research achievements at the University of Georgia. UGA researchers have made their marks examining crucial topics like the health of water resources and urban infrastructure in the face of climate change, the causes of higher suicide rates among young Black men, and an alarming trend in rates of Type 2 diabetes, among other groundbreaking work. Let’s take a closer look at 12 of the most impactful stories of the past year.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock CAES News
Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy
Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.
Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES) CAES News
Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”
Conner Hall CAES News
CAES welcomes 2024 cohort of Rural Scholars 11/20/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this fall just weeks after celebrating the program's first graduation. Georgia Orman, one of four inaugural Rural Scholars in CAES, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. The new scholars for 2024, all from Georgia, are Ela Ash of Ocilla, Lauren E. Coley of Cochran, Amelia Housley of Canon, and London O’Steen of Ambrose.