Silo Fire Decision Trees

Conventional Silo Fire Decision Tree

Precautionary Statements

• Confined space procedures must be followed for any silo entry
• Never flood a silo with water
• Protect adjacent structures by cutting away any structures that are touching the burning silo
• Silos should be emptied below the burned area
• Do not attempt to cool the exterior of a burning or hot silo
• Slowly burning silage may continue to burn for several weeks without any structural damage

Disclaimer: The authors make no warranties, expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, application, or use of the information mentioned or described on this chart. Nothing in this chart is intended as legal advice. Competent professionals should be consulted in any silo fire situation as well as on any medical or legal issues, if any, arising from the use if the information contained in this chart. ~ Davis E. Hill and Gregory R Jelliff

Oxygen Limiting and Modified Oxygen Limiting Silo Fire Decision Tree

Precautionary Statements

• Never inject water or foam into an oxygen limiting or modified oxygen limiting silo
• Never commit personnel to enter a burning or partially burning oxygen limiting or modified oxygen limiting silo
• Protect adjacent structures by cutting away any structures that are touching the burning silo
• Do not attempt to cool the exterior of a burning or hot silo
• Only trained individuals should attempt to inject gases into oxygen limited silos

Silo Emergency Worksheet

Emergency:

________ Fire

________ Rescue

Silo Type (as originally constructed):

________ Conventional

________ Oxygen limiting

Construction:

________ Steel

________ Concrete stave

________ Concrete block

________ Poured concrete

________ Tile

________ Wood

________ Other ( _____________________________________ )

Manufacturer: ____________________________________________

Time Contacted: __________________________________________

Material in Silo:

________ Corn silage

________ Haylage

________ Sorghum

________ High Moisture grain

________ Other ( _____________________________________ )

Date of last filling: _________________________________________

Was New material put on top of old material?

________ Yes

________ No

Silo Size: ________________________________________________

How full is silo? ___________________________________________

Reminders:

________ Lock out/tag out silo power

________ Raise unloader of conventional silo during fire operations

________ Restrict air from entering silo during fire operations

________ Run silo blower during rescue operations

For Technical Assistance, call PEMA EOC at 800-424-7362.