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Dryer Optimization: Be Smarter Than Your Dryer - continued

	The most important message to take from this information is for you to know what YOU are going to do in case of a fire, to know WHO you are going to contact, and to know WHO on your staff is in charge!

Additional Suggestions
If the decision is to purge the suspected column of grain, do not do so until the fire department has been summoned and is in place to react. Often when the grain is exposed to the air during this process, the highest risk of open flame and damage occurs.

• Volumes of water on the suspected area is usually the best advice. Often the suspected fire is well above ground in most commercial grain dryers which presents difficulty for some fire departments.
  
• Always keep safety in mind for both facility personnel as well as firefighters. What appears to be smoke can be a rush of flame when free air is introduced.
  
• Never enter a dryer with a suspected fire without proper protection and training. Danger of flash and entrapment is possible.

We can continue to list many good suggestions and some observations. I am sure you can list several of your own. However, the most important message to take from this information is for you to know what YOU are going to do, to know WHO you are going to contact, and to know WHO is in charge!

Develop a Plan
Review with your operators the importance of observation. They are the personnel that are familiar with the dryer. They can be the first to note a different sound, a different look, and a different odor. This early detection can be invaluable. Most grain dryer fires are a result of a trash fire. Therefore, all trash fires are avoidable. All operators should be aware of this peril which follows poor housekeeping.

Know Who to Contact
Have a reporting procedure in place. Keep supervisory personnel numbers posted as well as fire and ambulance numbers. Most facilities do a good job of having an emergency plan in place but often fall short of having a specific plan for a Grain Dryer Fire.

Know Who is in Charge
It must be made totally clear that once the fire department is summoned to the fire, the fire chief or acting chief for this run is TOTALLY by law in charge. Even though you may have valued input into any action, the chief has full jurisdiction over your facility. This may at first seem a little hard to accept but it is beneficial to know now not later. Therefore, develop your plan WITH your local fire support. Have them make a run to your facility. Show them the general layout of the grain flow, electrical, and fuel. Discuss with them your request to purge any columns and the method to do so. Yes, advise them of what you have learned concerning the behavior of the fire and cautions for safety. Make this an annual meeting prior to harvest. Cooperation is essential before and during an incident.

Make Total Preparedness a Goal
Some examples of total preparedness include water retention ponds on site of the facility, rehearsed use of hydrants, annual practice, mock drills, and response training. Some facilities provide an annual picnic for all local fire, police, and emergency response personnel in appreciation for their preparedness.

Each year we hear of industry grain dryer fires and the damage that occurs and unfortunately personal injuries as a result. Quality prevention and total preparedness are your greatest tools to protect your facility and personnel.

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