Combines fire in bin what to do

[farmboy]

I would think a grain vac would work. I'd be a little leary about standing in the grain with the vac while it is smoldering. I don't know why an auger wouldn't work, what will gum it upIJ Might look for cattle feeders or something. If you can blend the grain well enough, but let the feeder know it was burned, it could still be good enough quality to feed. Just some thoughts.

 

[SD_455]

If the hot grain is in the center on top only use the bin loadout auger to draw it out. As long as the hot corn is near the top it should blend in with the corn below as it goes out. What did your insurance company have to sayIJ

 

[Silver_bUllET]

Call the local fire department or someone at a grain elevator with some training in something like this. Being a volunteer fireman myself, my first thought is don't move it as that could add oxygen to the hot spots and cause more problems. One possible way to kill the heat and smoldering is to cover the grain with foam...provided by most fire departments. You will get some water on the grain, but that may cut the oxygen supply and extinguish the hot spots.

 

[FR]

I had this happen at the farm I was custom picking for pull the grain out as soon as possible spread it out on ground we used the unload till it would not work then cut hole in bin and vacked out the rest the longer you wait the werce it gets no elevater will take it for fear it could cause an explosion fire department can only put out fire they can see no good in side bin Good luck!

 

[hunter]

today we are going to cut the bin open and spread the grain on the ground. Hope we get the hot spots out before auger quits, I am told from someone that had a fire in bin the auger will collet a slime from the grain and biuld up till it quits working. I found someone with a grain vac and they don't want to pick up any hot grain , it will also plug their vac and the heat will make it not work, it also had rubber fittings. Insurance just wants to know how much of a loss there is and is any grain to be saved.

 

[Kurt]

I wonder if there would be any way to fill the bin with carbon monoxideIJ Would that smother a fireIJ Just wondering

 

[Silver_Bullet]

You know, you may have something there. If you could put a hose over an exhaust pipe and stick the other end in the top of the binIJ....might work. Carbon monoxide is heavier than air. The main thing I was getting at was to limit the oxygen supply and your suggestion would be better than the foam.

 

[jiw]

Carbon Monoxide is lighter than air. Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air. You can usually get bottles of it at a welding supply dealer. BE CAREFUl !!! A 7-10 % concentration can knock you out! It's scary when you get a mouth full of it and you can't breath.