The Green Industry's Resource Center

oaktree59 · #1 08-16-2007, 09:48 PM

I put grass clippings on this guys land and he wants me to stop. He is afraid that the pile is going to catch on fire. Is that possible?

CLARK LAWN · #2 08-16-2007, 10:56 PM

i have dumped in the same spot for over 4 years and it has not cought on fire yet it is pretty hot in the center but there is also alot of moisture in there so i doubt it will spontaniously combust but if someone were to light it it might burn

eaglejrl · #3 08-16-2007, 11:28 PM

As a kid I used to haul square bails of hay. I was always told you never put wet hay in a barn because it could catch fire. As I understand, it takes the right conditions for spontaneous combustion to occur. It just so happens a school playground caught on fire last week from spontaneous combustion. Here is the link to the story.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....2f9b9ce8.html

elshauno · #4 08-16-2007, 11:40 PM

I know for a fact that linseed soaked rags will catch fire if left out for about a week. So I must agree with Eagle it is possible for spontaneous combustion to occur with wet grass under the right conditions.

DOLMARatOS · #5 08-17-2007, 01:01 AM

We have seen piles of grass smoking in the right conditions.

Here are some tips. We dump on a back lot of farm-land. About once a week, we fire up the Skid-Steer and spread the piles out. This allows them to dry cool. (Same as letting hay dry out before and after bailing).

Our practice is to spread out the piles so that when they decay, the combustible gases and heat can dissipate quickly.