Private Farm Unit contains Fire to Tractor (28/01/2022)
This morning, around 10:30am, a private tractor being used to slash grass on a farm between Buxton and Narbethong caught fire and was contained to the tractor's engine area using the 9lt water extinguisher from the tractor. The fire was then extinguished by the property owner using their Private Farm Firefighting Unit.
The property owner had been undertaking fuel reduction work with the tractor when a fire started in the engine compartment. The fire spread to the grass under the tractor but the fire was contained to a small area because the operator had the correct fire safety equipment at hand. The tractor was equipped with a 9lt water fire extinguisher and the operator had the private farm unit nearby.
Buxton, Marysville, and Taggerty brigades were responded in support of Narbethong. Upon arrival, the area of the fire was deemed safe and other responding units were able to return home. Forest Fire Management Victoria units were also alerted due to the farm adjoining public forests.
During the declared Fire Danger Period, all self-propelled farm machinery, tractors, slashers, earth-moving, excavating or road making machines propelled by a heat engine within 9 metres of any crops, grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation are required to carry fire suppression equipment comprising either: at least one knapsack spray pump, in working order, fully charged with water, with a capacity of not less than 9 litres, or at least one water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher, in working order, fully charged with water and maintained at the correct pressure, with a capacity of not less than 9 litres.
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