[USCC] Fire Plan for a Remotely Located Open Air Composting Facility

[Craig Coker]

Alan:

I'd refer you to Ken Newman at Royal Oak Farm near Lynchburg, VA
(540-297-3299).  His open-air windrow composting facility is rural and he's
also the Ass't. Chief of the Huddleston VFD nearby.  Following is an excerpt
from the O&M manual I drafted for his VA DEQ Solid Waste Composting Permit.

Cheers,
Craig

OPERATIONS MANUAL
FIRE MANAGEMENT
________________________________________

Composting facilities can be sources of fires due to the combustible nature
of some of the feedstocks in the composting process.  Fire prevention is a
far more effective approach to fire management than fire fighting, but, in
the event a fire does occur, all employees shall follow these procedures.

Fire prevention principles that are always in effect at Royal Oak include:
careful and frequent temperature monitoring of compost piles; ensuring
adequate moisture in compost piles; detecting and repairing any equipment
fuel leaks immediately; and careful management and isolation of combustible
liquids.

There are three types of fires possible at the Royal Oak composting
facility: a compost fire, a diesel-fuel fire on a piece of equipment, or a
structural fire (i.e. the office, the repair garage, the storage shed,
etc.).  Each fire is different and requires a different approach to fight.

Compost Fires

Compost fires are usually caused by spontaneous combustion of the materials
in the compost fire, but can also be caused by a carelessly-tossed
cigarette, or by lightning.  Compost fires are smoldering ember-type fires
that can often be detected in their early stages by careful temperature
monitoring.  Use the following procedure for compost fires:

.	If routine temperature monitoring shows a location in a windrow
where temperatures are greater than 160o F., flag the location of the
reading (with a landscape flag or a stick with a rag tied to it) and notify
the General Manager immediately.
.	If you detect smoke rising from a vent in the compost, mark the
location and notify the General Manager immediately.
.	To fight a compost fire, carefully excavate the area around the
marked flag or stick with the bucket of the loader and spread the compost
out on the ground in a thin layer (no more than 12" thick).  Be aware that
exposing the inside of a compost pile to air while it is burning may spread
the fire quickly.
.	Have another person standing by with a water hose and thoroughly
water down the embers in the compost.  Be aware that compost fires can
reignite and spread so watering the whole area thoroughly is best.
.	If the fire seems to be spreading, notify the General Manager and
assist him in getting larger amounts of water from the irrigation stanchion
to fight the fire.

Diesel Fires

Diesel fuel and other combustible liquids leaking from a piece of equipment
can catch fire, especially in the presence of fine dusts created by the
composting operation which can be ignited by stray sparks.  These types of
fires can only be put out with a Class B fire extinguisher.  In the event of
a diesel (or combustible liquids) fire, immediately call 911.  Use only an
approved Class B fire extinguisher to fight the fire, aiming the
extinguisher at the base of the fire.  When the Fire Department arrives, let
them take over.

Structure Fire

In the event of a fire involving one of the structures at Royal Oak
Composting Facility, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF.  Immediately
call 911.  


Craig Coker
Coker Composting & Consulting
3331 Glade Creek Blvd., Ste. 7
Roanoke, VA 24012
Tel.: (540) 904-2698
Fax: (540) 904-6732
Cell: (540) 874-5168
Email: craigcoker at cox.net
Web: www.cokercompost.com
 
-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of A RUBIN
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:13 PM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: [USCC] Fire Plan for a Remotely Located Open Air Composting
Facility

I am writing to request any available information regarding a fire plan for
a composting facility. I would be specifically interested in fire plans for
remote composting facilities that do not have access to public utilities.
Maybe you have or know of a composting facility that 
has been very proactive in their approach/planning with their local fire
department?

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alan B. Rubin, Ph.D.

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