An earlier hay season has Victorian farmers and CFA talking about the dangers of high moisture content in hay as they begin cutting, baling and storing it in warmer conditions.
Unfortunately, a haystack fire is not unusual to CFA, having responded to almost 52 haystack related fires between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said if hay was baled with high moisture content and was green, it can heat up like compost, which can lead to spontaneous combustion weeks or months later.
"Farmers who have decided to carry on with hay production need to be extra vigilant this year to make sure conditions are right for making hay and for the future storage and transport as well,"
Mr Heffernan said.
"Hay fires are a real threat to properties and stock in primary production areas.
"Whether you're a seasoned hay grower or switching to hay this year, it's imperative to take care of your hay and crops this fire season.
"Consider the storage of your hay to avoid spontaneous combustion which can lead to ignition," he said.
When hay is either not properly cured and dried out before baling, or not stored to protect it from rain or damp conditions, moisture content in the bales is then higher than the recommended
level. If stored in environments with high temperatures and little airflow, a biological reaction could lead to a fire.
Haystack fires can also start easily from lightning strikes or sparks from equipment.
"You should regularly monitor your haystacks by using a temperature probe or a crowbar to detect heating hay," Mr Heffernan said.