The daily star-mirror., 1923-08-06
TO GUARD AGAINST
SMUT EXPLOSIONS
FIRE PREVENTION ENGINEER
GIVES INFORMATION = LEAVES
MATERIAL FOR GROUND WIRING

Horace Sykes, fire prevention engi-
neer, of Walla Walla and Seattle, was
in Moscow, Saturday, and attended
the farmers meeting at the Farmers
Union hall, Saturday evening, giving
some valuable information along the
line of preventing smut explosions,
which has cost the Palouse farmers
and threshing machine men consider
able money in the past few years.
Mr.. Sykes left at The Star-Mirror Of
flee 20 sets of material for wiring
stationary separators to prevent smut
explosions. This material is avail
able for threshing machine men, free
of charge, at this office.
Mr.. Sykes said in part:
The loss from grain fire is the
most serious loss sustained by the
people of the northwest. 1t is a re-
gular occurrence varying somewhat
with the severity Of the hazards, the
condition of the grain, and the eli
matte conditions.
While a small percentage Of the
fire may be beyond the possibility
of control, large percentage is
caused by things that are within con-
troll y proper precautionary means
are employed
The most prolific caus is the
separator fire which in most cases is
the result of dust explosion.
The second cause in Importance is
the sparks and ash dumps from
engines. Other serious causes are
improperly screened exhausts from
gasoline motors, trucks and automO-
biles driven through fields without
effective mufflers, and personal care
1essness, chief of which is smoking. |
tho Of
fire a valuable safeguard is the wir-
ing of the machine for the purpose
of carrying away the static electri-
city from the moving parts. This |
wiring while not difficult or expen-
sive to accomplish, should be done in
a particular and workmanlike man
ner The following points should be
observed:
"The copper strip or brush connect
ing with the cylinder shaft, and the
blower for shaft should have firm
bearing on dry metal so that a per-
feet contact is assured. The journals
should also be connected to the
ground wire, and the blower case. 1t
is important that the shakers be con-
nected by flexible wire connection
which will not break from the motion
of the parts The circuit should be
firmly attached to the ground rod
which should be driven at least three
feet in the earth, and the earth sur
rounding the rod moistened. All con-
nections in the grounding system
should be firmly and substantially
made to insure a good metallic con-
nection from the various moving parts
to the earth. ,
"Smoke stacks and exhaust pipes
from engines and motors should be
we'll screened to prevent the escape
of cinders, sparks, and burning car
bon. These screens should be large,
with fine mesh and detachable for
cleaning A double screen is stlll
more effective. The safest method to :
stop hot carbon from motors is to
direct the exhaust into a tank or
barrel containing water, so the glow :,
ing particles are discharged directly ::
into the water. q
"In regard to ash dumps, all that
can be said is that it is the worst
.orm OF carelessness to leave an ASH
lump in a field in such a condition
hat it can start a fire perhaps hours Z =
afterwards. Goals have been known :
q STAY alive in ashes for days. The
Ish pile should be thoroughly soaked
With water, or completely covered :, :.
Nth mineral earth. y
"In regard the hazards arising :.
rom personal carelessness, no one
,houId go into a grain field or about
! separator In a grain field smoking,
r with loose matches in their poe y
zets q
aEyery machine tender should see q 9,
hat the water supply is kept close .
nd available, for instant use, and =.
hat sacks are also easily ava1iaple. - :.
everal sharp nosed shovels should =, -
lso be kept in readiness for fire W ;"
ighting, and it is well to carry ~
low for the same purpose. =
1.-THE most effective extinguisher -, -
eyise for use on separators yet de- .,
ised is the Breston chemical extin- f. r.
usher. 1t has demonstrated success ~, ~
lilly in large number OF actual Sc 70
arate explosions and fires. ~
EVERY combine should be equipped ~
18th at least two 21s gallon soda acid SY
hemical extinguishers. quantity OF
ct sacks, and two sharp nosed
aovels.
1t is practically not possible to r.
ntirely eliminate grain fire, but II oh
,e foregoing suggestions are fol- oh
wed, it can be greatly reduced w;
Grain harvesting operations so an
If show that on an average the far to
ers are carrying good percentage I'll
. their risk Perhaps as much as ab
venty per cent. This is because the 90
eld per acre is exceeding the est1-
ates made at the time of placing an
surance. For example, the fire on ba
e Kirkman ranch neAr Wa1la Walla, ev
hich destroyed 500 acres of grain, ha
e insurance was placed at 35 wi
lshels per acre, the actual yield was to,
bushels"