Assessing Fire Risks in Agricultural Balers: A Comprehensive Study

Agricultural machinery, particularly balers, plays a crucial role in forage management. These machines are prone to fire incidents caused by mechanical friction, heat buildup, and the accumulation of crop residues, among other contributing factors. Despite their operational importance, fire risks associated with balers remain largely understudied. This research aims to identify critical fire risk factors in large square balers through a combined analysis of survey data, temperature monitoring, and residue characterization. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 144 large square baler users to assess fire incidence and potential risk factors. Contingency table analysis and binary logistic regression were applied to identify variables significantly associated with the fire risk. Additionally, temperature data were recorded in six balers during two harvesting seasons, and residue samples were collected and analyzed to assess their ignition potential. Using a rake for windrowing was the only variable significantly associated with increased fire risk, making balers 3.4 times more likely to experience a fire (p = 0.034). Temperature analysis showed that the feeder fork brake (190.6 °C) and hydraulic pump (128.7 °C) were the hottest components, but none of the recorded temperatures exceeded the 250 °C ignition threshold of fine agricultural residues. Residue analysis showed that particles smaller than 250 µm accounted for 39% of the total material, underscoring their potential to contribute to fire propagation. This study highlights the critical influence of raking equipment on fire risk in balers and emphasizes the importance of preventive measures such as enhanced cleaning, real-time temperature monitoring, and improved mechanical design. These findings provide actionable insights for reducing fire hazards in agricultural operations and optimizing baler safety.