Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in a hay-filled building in Wantage. Photo by David Burns.
Barns and other structures used for storing hay are especially at risk of fire, and the toll financially and in the loss of human and animal life can be devastating.
Summer is one of the most common times of year for such fires to occur. Winter fires can also result from heating lamps, rodents chewing through wires and the accumulation of dust and cobwebs on electrical surfaces.
Rutgers University’s Cooperative Extension offers tips to minimize the risk, including: allowing hay to dry for at least one full day prior to baling; and storing hay separately from areas where livestock and equipment are housed and away from electrical or heat sources.
For more tips to minimize risk, read the New Jersey Herald article.
For additional information, visit the Rutgers Cooperative Extension website.
