Fire Danger of composting
How to prevent it and keep on composting!
Don’t let your compost dry out and there won’t be fires.
An active compost system will naturally create heat. The great thermophilic bacteria start out the compost life cycle and part of their fun is to make the compost hot.
Another important component of having a compost site is keeping the pile moist. Similarly to how jerky or dehydrated fruit doesn’t rot, the compost pile won’t decompose if it’s dry.
Where is this all leading?
Perhaps you are familiar with the fire triangle? Picture the 3 sides of a triangle and in order for a fire to start you need 3 components:
- Heat
- Burnable material
- Oxygen
A common cause of compost fires is having the edges of the compost pile dry out, which creates burnable material, while the interior is actively producing heat because of those amazing thermophilic bacteria. Add in the oxygen present in the air at the exterior of the pile and all the pieces of the fire triangle are in place. Thus if the compost pile is not being turned and watered frequently, the middle heats up and the dry exterior can start on fire.
To prevent fires in the compost keep it moist and turn/mix it regularly. This eliminates the possibility of a hot core with dry edges.
Many also recommend setting the compost area up away from any structures and having the compost area in the shade. Honestly, I wouldn’t want the compost right on the house because I don’t like the idea of rodents or smells gaining entry to where I live. As far as putting it in the shade… I think that can be argued either way. If you live in a colder area the compost can use the sun in the winter to help keep trucking along, but if the compost setup is in the direct sun in the summer it should be watched for faster drying.
House fires can be caused by careless candle use, forgetting to turn the stove off, bad electrical outlets, or space heaters, but that doesn’t stop us from using our stoves, lighting candles, having a space heater or plugging into an outlet. Know the dangers and be diligent with tending the compost to prevent the risk of fire.