The Little Hay Co Warns Pet Keepers About the Fire Hazard of Substandard Feeding Hay
A UK-based premium hay producer, The Little Hay Co, has reiterated the importance of storing hay products correctly to mitigate the serious fire risk caused when low-quality hay overheats.
The premium hay producer has stressed the importance of storing hay products correctly to mitigate the serious fire risk caused when low-quality hay overheats, reaching internal temperatures that stimulate sudden combustion.
The Little Hay Co retails a range of premium quality rabbit hay and grasses, as well as for other small pets, alongside other pet food supplies and advocates for an advanced manufacturing technique that retains a balanced moisture content of 12%, significantly reducing the fire risk.
Spontaneous Combustion and Fire Within Hay Products
Many pet owners purchase hay in bales or a hay box as a primary food source for rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and other small animals.
While it may seem unlikely that the British weather will reach temperatures extreme enough to create a fire risk, the issue relates to the internal temperature of dried hays rather than the external air temperature.
Hay produces a flammable gas at an internal temperature of 55°C and reaches this quickly in substandard products with moisture levels of 20% or above. The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service reports that hay with a moisture level below 15% presents a reduced fire risk and that bales should not exceed 16% to 18% to be considered safe for storage.
Where hay is stored in a container, shed, garage or another outbuilding in the summer, it may pose a serious threat to safety. Pet owners are cautioned to avoid purchasing any hay product in any form that does not conform to the maximum moisture content advisory notice.
Statistics show that wildfires and forest fires are increasing, with 20,000 hectares of land lost to fire in the UK, as of October 2022. Combined with record-high temperatures, with 2022 the joint-hottest summer since 1884, according to the Met Office, it is crucial for homeowners and animal keepers to understand the risks.
Avoiding Safety Hazards and Fire Risks When Storing Hay
The farmer behind The Little Hay Co., Alexander, says: “Thousands of pet owners are unaware of how dangerous low-quality hay can be, or why the moisture content is such an important feature, not just for the health and welfare of their animals, but for the safety of their home and family.
Our summers are getting hotter and drier, and anything we can do to prevent uncontrolled fires and wildfires is important.
Hay fires are one of the potential triggers that can lead to serious outcomes, including loss of life, and we want to raise awareness ahead of the next warm season to try and reduce preventable fires.
Particularly where outdoor species live in runs, hutches and coops adjacent to storage containers and sheds, we urge pet owners to review the content of their selected hay products to ensure the moisture level is below 15% as a maximum.”
How to Store and Use Hay Safely
Fire risks linked to stored hay are not necessarily associated with the storage technique but with the water within the hay. This initiates the chemical change, producing fumes that cause the hay fibres to ignite.
Drier hay might be perceived as a greater fire risk but can only combust when in contact with another flammable item, and storing hay inside a shed or outbuilding is advisable to retain quality and avoid contaminants introduced by the external environment.
Storage spaces with metal roofs may be at higher risk due to the increased internal temperature, and black storage bins or containers should be kept in a shady area in the summer months.
The best preventative is to ensure you do not purchase any feeding hay product with a moisture level that presents a fire risk and to verify whether any product you use is suitable without causing a fire hazard.
Alexander adds: "The Little Hay Co uses an innovative process to harvest and manage the quality of each hay bale, with a unique method of baling and drying hay in controlled conditions. This approach assures our valued customers that every bale has a consistent 12% moisture content and carries a rich, fragrant flavour that animals love."
Read more about The Little Hay Co - Little Hay Co. Launches Range of Discounts to Support Households with Small Pets
Media Contact:
Masie Copestake
The Little Hay Company
Instagram: @littlehayco
About The Little Hay Co
The Little Hay Co is a producer of premium, high-quality, delicious hay for rabbits and other small animals, based in the heart of the Costwolds, UK. The premium hay producer grows specially selected grass species, harvested at the optimum moment to ensure the creation of quality pet hay, to encourage the best daily intake of food and the best welfare for pets, clean from harmful spores.
Source Company: https://littlehayco.com/