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From: devine@asgb.UUCP (Robert J. Devine)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.garden
Subject: Re: Spontaneous combustion and people! (really of HAY; compost)
Message-ID: <844@asgb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 19:33:42 EST
Article-I.D.: asgb.844
Posted: Mon Jan 27 19:33:42 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jan-86 02:00:03 EST
References: <3101@brl-tgr.ARPA> <197@prometheus.UUCP> <3326@brl-tgr.ARPA> <269@agrigene.UUCP>, <769@decuac.UUCP>Re: Spontaneous combustion
Organization: Burroughs Corp. ASG, Boulder Colo.
Lines: 22
Xref: watmath net.misc:9225 net.garden:924

> Give me a break!!!  The reason 'hay' can burn is that grass continues
> to 'live' after it's cut; this process, in accordance with the
> 2nd law of Thermodynamics, gives off waste heat.  The waste heat gets
> trapped in the bales, and the temperature rises!!! Voila - fire.
> 
> Ihor Kinal
> P.S.  Supposedly, pouring water on burning hay only makes the problem
> worse, since it just speeds up the grass's natural processes.
> But I've never confirmed that.

  Wrong.  Fresh bales of hay cause fires because of the action of
mold or mildew on the still wet grass.  Cut open a bale that was
baled wet and you will find slimy, warm hay (Yum!).  A bale by itself
will reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit within several hours.  A hay-mow
can easily get past 200.  Anaerobic bacteria love warm, wet, and
dark conditions.

  And no, water on a hay (or grass) fire will put it out just fine.


jus' a farm boy from Wisconsin working on them new-fangled computers....
Bob Devine