Fire is a serious threat in any business setting, but in an agricultural setting, the the chance of there being a fire can be even greater. Between combustible chemicals and direct exposure to high temperatures, there are many reasons why a fire could easily ignite on your farm. As an agricultural business owner, it is your responsibility to educate yourself about the potential threats and dangers that are hanging around in barns, greenhouses, silos, and other buildings on your property. Here are a a few dos and don'ts you should know about fire safety and prevention in an agricultural setting.

Do: Keep flammables in a safe area.

Flammables should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from any location where there is work being performed. For example, you should keep flammables at least 35 feet away from anywhere that you are doing welding.

Don't: Allow smoking in your buildings or on the property.

A lit cigarette or hot ashes dropped from a lit cigarette could be enough to ignite dry hay. Furthermore, a cigarette left burning could easily get blown into an area where flammables are located.

Do: Keep fire extinguishers mounted to farm machinery.

Farm machinery, especially that which is outdated, could easily catch fire when there is high friction in the engine or a sudden spark. It is crucial to have a fire extinguisher within reach to prevent the fire from spreading out of hand.

Don't: Store hay when it is still moist or wet.

Wet hay is known to spontaneously combust in storage. This is due to the fact that the moisture, lack of oxygen, and microbial growth will generate heat within compacted hay. Therefore, you should take great steps to ensure hay is put away when it is completely dry and kept that way in storage.

Do: Keep clutter contained in all areas.

Regardless of the setting, clutter can create a problem in the event that a fire breaks out. It can hinder movement and contribute to fueling the fire, making it harder to contain with just a fire extinguisher.

Your farm and agricultural business is likely one that you have invested a lot of time and money in and there is no doubt you should do all that you can to protect it. Even if it means implementing new practices or installing fire suppression systems, it will be well worth the cost to make sure fire is not a big threat for your business. Contact a local fire extinguisher outlet, such as Echo Fire Protection, for further assistance.