Safety

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss

Control

Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Quarterly Safety Meeting: Fire on Logging Machinery

Fire on logging machinery is a detrimental loss that has occurred since heavy machines first arrived in the woods. While manufacturers of equipment continue to make strides in fire suppression systems, one thing that remains true is that, when a fire occurs, the operator taking immediate and effective action can make the difference between a machine that suffers zero to minor damage and a machine that suffers a significant fire loss. Because of this fact, an occasional reminder to operators about how to fight an equipment fire can be extremely helpful if a fire occurs. While every situation is different, the following steps can be taken to help reduce the damage caused by a fire:

1. Don’t get hurt. At the end of the day a machine is replaceable but the operator is not. If the fire is too big or you are not comfortable that you can extinguish the fire safely, you should stand back and take precautions to prevent the fire from spreading onto the ground or other equipment in the area. It is not worth risking your safety to extinguish a machine fire.

2. Call for help immediately. Tell other operators in the area what is going on and ask them to come help you. Often times the other machines can carry water or additional handheld fire extinguishers to assist in extinguishing a fire.

3. Shut machine down by turning off the key, grounding out hydraulics and, if possible, shut off the master switch. Shutting the machine down completely and grounding out the hydraulics will help you reduce the amount of additional fuel, such as oils, being introduced to the fire. Shutting the master switch off will help to remove a potential source of re-ignition.

4. Activate your fire suppression system. If the system has not yet activated, you should immediately activate it manually. Activating it manually can prevent the fire from growing by suppressing it enough to allow you to utilize a handheld extinguisher on remaining flames. It should be noted here that fire suppression systems may differ in how they are activated and you should familiarize yourself with your own system before a fire occurs.

5. Get ready with your portable extinguishers. A portable extinguisher, such as a loaded stream, can be helpful in extinguishing a fire once it has been suppressed. Most manufacturers recommend leaving the engine compartment closed to prevent the fire from getting more oxygen while also allowing the suppression agent to do its job. Because of this, most equipment manufacturers have designated locations around the machine where you can insert a fire extinguisher hose and discharge it.

6. Standby at the machine. Fires have been known to rekindle on machinery up to several hours after the initial fire was presumed to be extinguished. After the fire appears to have been extinguished, you should wait at your machine with additional hand held fire extinguishers until you are comfortable that it has been completely extinguished. While the fire is taking place, there is a lot of information that can be helpful in figuring out what caused the fire to ignite. Below are some observations you can make to help investigators figure out the cause of the fire:

1. What color was the smoke? A surprising amount of information can be gathered by the color of smoke. The color of the smoke can help point towards where the fire ignited as well as what was fueling the fire.

2. What did you hear? You may hear an alarm indicating the fire suppression system discharged. You may hear crackling, potentially pointing to an electrical problem. Simple observations like these can help investigators find the cause of the fire.

3. What did you see? Note areas on the machine where you first see flames. Where was the fire most intense? What happened when the suppression system went off?

4. Take a video or pictures. If you are no longer able to fight the fire, and as long as it is safe to do so, standing back and taking a video and/or photos can be helpful to investigators.

Fires on machinery are hazardous and can cause significant downtime for a logging contractor. While manufacturers of equipment and fire suppression systems continue to work diligently to prevent fires from ever occurring, it remains true that as long as you are cutting wood with machinery, fire is always going to be a possibility. Simple steps like those listed above can go a long way in preventing the severity of a fire and getting your machinery back to work quickly.

Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.