A day being a logger- 2 bad machine fires an hour apart

[@paulc8581]

I was working for a farmer and he was showing me how to run the combine in a corn field . Went to turn around and when he went to set the head down he didn't have any hydraulics . I jumped out and swung the back panel open so I can get up by the motor .. The fire started because of a exhaust manifold gasket. Burnt 26 wires . Got it out with a bunch of water jugs . He told me there was a 5 Gallon bucket full of water ,ya right good thing I didn't grab that bucket full of oil . But saved the combine and took me 5 hrs to rewire it . Glad everything worked out for you and you guys didn't loose anything

[@haroldrobertson582]

Mr. Cotton, thanks for your posting of the fires without "crying in your milk." You probably could say- " it is what it is and you just gotta deal with it. Glad no one was injured.

[@bobbygregory9842]

GLAD THAT NO ONE WAS HURT!!!👍🏻💯👍🏻💯🪓🌲🪓🌲❤️

[@nicklambing9268]

Over the 35 years I was in the fire service I responded to fires of all kinds including fires in and on heavy equipment as quarry loaders and shovels of extremely large size and you are very correct how fast the fire can spread and engulf equipment with high pressure hydraulic lines and cooling systems moving large volumes of air. The fire takes hold of the machine very fast and quickly involves fuel, large tires, anything flammable. Very often the fire department is dealing with a heavily involved piece of equipment that presents significant challenges and dangers with the extinguishment process. I am so glad you were able to successfully extinguish your fires and most importantly, no one was injured or killed. Being prepared is everything and even then, many times there is nothing you can do to stop the advance of the fire when all you have are portable fire extinguishers, but they can do the job early on, if as you said, they are fully functional and you know how to utilize them. Nick, North West Farmer

[@keithpowell2786]

I can’t get used to see a yellow machine out of your loader window. Thank goodness none of you guys got hurt

[@brucehuff5566]

Thank god nobody was injured and you guys are prepared for those times. Stay safe

[@cotontop3]

Yes sir 👍🏻

[@BillSkidmoreoutside]

All of our equipment and and trucks have extinguishers in them and are serviced every year, it happens fast in the woods, great video, glad everyone is ok

[@shawnschoppert8540]

Glad y all was able to think fast and save both machines and no one got hurt, at work we have to have a fire bottle stationed per 3 aircraft, so within every 3rd jet there is a fire bottle minimum and we have saved situations from becoming worse do to our training and having fire bottles close on hand. Glad no one was hurt & everyone stay safe out there!!

[@firechief828]

Hey Tim I am the fire chief at our local fire department I just wanted to let you know you should probably invest in some silver bullet water extinguishers I'm sure you probably have seen them but there is a chemical you can mix with those called Fire Aid 2000 it is a game changer when it comes to fuel, oil and Especially wood shavings in the belly Pan. You can mix that about a court to each extinguisher and it makes a bad mama jama and best thing is if you have water and an air hose your back in business in 5 minutes. I'm only suggesting adding a few of them the powder puffers are still a must! And also not to be long winded here but Fire Aid also makes some Compressed Air Foam Systems that are very compact that you could probably mount on one of your service trucks you guys are usually a long way from a fire department and those things are bad to the bone you should check them out on KZbin!

[@popsnorthcutt1741]

When it rains it pours. Glad everyone is safe. You can always fix/replace machines.

[@richardpowers4379]

Glad you all got it out tim and didn't do alot of damage that can be fixed I drive a garbage truck for my city public works here in ky where I live we lost one of our trucks about 2 weeks ago now it burned to the ground stay safe and hope you all will get it fixed back up soon and get back to using it I'm just glad it has warmed up here and we had started parking them outside again if we had been parking in the shop we would have lost everything.....

[@randyrhodes7526]

Glad you are good, and yes the rubber mallet on the bottom is for sure a good maintenance tip for a dry type extinguisher.

[@johncolasanto605]

Awesome save on the Machines Tim.. Glad that You and your family got out of the situation safe.. and were able to save the machines.... Something that you might want to check out for the future is an extinguisher that is produced that as a water / foam mixture... several manufacturers produce them.. We used them in the fire department to stop many fires.... Keep up the great work & Stay Safe!!!

[@joehussey2693]

I can only imagine what that jarring feels like in a elevated cab.You can tell a person that has seen fire, they have plenty of fire extinguishers! Good job!

[@mattyc195]

Crazy day for y’all. Glad y’all saved the equipment and no one got hurt.

[@mikedobson2988]

Main thing is Noone was hurt, second you didn't lose a machine. I've been burning brush and had the excavator catch fire in the center down by the turn table, fire extinguisher saved it. Also I always tried to keep those areas clean every day especially when we were clearing.

[@jamesnelson6848]

Man o man, glad it wasn't any worse and no one injured! Two fires on two machines back to back on the same day...what are the odds... Thankfully no injuries!!

[@oldtimerf7602]

I had a skidder on fire 3 times over 10 years... Put all 3 out with the same blue plastic snow shovel. Snow a couple times, dirt another.

[@oldman8268]

Sorry to hear that Mr Tim, glad you folks were prepared. I live in a rural farming community even working for several different farmers over the years and have seen my share of equipment fires as a volunteer fire fighter. If your preparation is left up to a fire department getting too you in time to save your machine I hope you have good insurance because that fire move’s so fast you’d be lucky to save a tire. Stay safe, stay prepared.

[@davidbillings615]

Glad everyone was fine.

[@troytreeguy]

Very unfortunate Tim, glad no one was hurt and you didn’t loose more, still lost plenty 🙁❤️

[@carlcarlamos9055]

Thank you for your story and providing a platform for a Toolbox Meeting. There is some good info here in the comments. Hopefully some property damage or injury will be prevented. Take care.

[@bigjoesburgers]

Twice a year we always loosen up the dry chemical extinguishers on our locomotives. The vibration of the train settles the powder.

[@MrBogeyone]

Many, many years ago I had a Glass Stream bass boat with a 115 Mercury engine. I started losing power on it one afternoon while fishing. I looked at it when I got home and noticed a drip of gas coming out of the power head, so I backed it up to the front of the house, where I had lights. Keep in mind that I was a mechanic for a Cadillac/ GM dealer. I released the latches to the engine cover to remove it. Same thing you described...."Whoosh". the engine burst into flames and was about as high as the eaves of my house. I jumped into the boat and grabbed the extinguisher, pulled the pin and directed it to the bottom of the motor housing. I pulled the "trigger". Nothing happened. I had two onboard so I trashed the first one and grabbed the second one and repeated. It put the fire out, but not before all the plastic fuel lines were about gone and the wiring harness was history. I looked over the damage and called my insurance company. I found out I had a $100.00 deductible and they needed an estimate. I had to call them back and they took a statement from me as to what happened, and recorded it. I went back and looked everything over again. I ended up ordering the fuel lines and gaskets for all three carbs and enough wire to repair the harness and "conduit" for it. My out of pocket expenses were $65.00, so I sent the bill to the insurances company (which they refused to pay) and ate the labor. I was very lucky. Fast forward: i bought a new bass rig last year. I picked it up from the dealer and went straight to the insurance company and THEN to the courthouse for registration. I had to itemize the costs of replacements for the hull, the engine, the trailer, and accessories for the new policy. seems people were totaling boats and then selling parts from them. The company would pay off and the owner would sell the good stuff for a profit. I'm good because I know what caused my first fire and now I have backup plans for almost everything.

[@billy-bigpapasmith574]

One of the best ways to stop engine from running is to take that fire Extinguishere and spray it in the air intake does not hurt the motor. Advice from an old truck driver(operator)

[@royceabbottsexcavation3709]

One of my biggest fears is fire! Glad everyone is safe!

[@cotontop3]

Very true

[@Firebird_876]

Back when I’d bale hay with my uncle we lost a month old Vermeer baler to a fire I emptied 3 15lb extinguishers on it and still couldn’t get it out. The extinguishers I used kept it down long enough to get the tractor unhooked from it luckily neither of us were injured.

[@cotontop3]

Hay fires are really tough to deal with.

[@joebenwy2738]

Thank God none of you guys were hurt

[@terrellfarms1]

Glad you got them out Tim. I remember when just about all the skidders used to have water tanks on top of the cabs for fire suppression. I don't think any of the new ones have that anymore. That is most likely where the AC stuff is located now. Water won't put out a lot of fires but it will cool down hot areas that keep flaring up. If you can remove the heat you can stop most fires.

[@metlmuncher]

Good reminder to get a extinguisher on my tractor.

[@nicholasbryant6122]

This is exactly why you should clean your machines of all the debris, grease, and oil every now and then. Because once that shit gets going it BURNS.

[@davidluke1747]

Thanks for reminder- Need truck and shop extinguishers Whew!

[@jasondoucette4642]

It's very professional the way you guys keep everything up in your fire extinguishers

[@BKD70]

I've worked at airports for most of my adult life... I've put out 3 airplanes that have caught on fire. It happens FAST. Luckily saved them all. One guy got mad afterward, he changed his mind and wanted it to burn up for the insurance money, LOL. Oh well. My neighbor farmer has an older JD 222(?) excavator. He uses it for cleaning up field edges, etc. He was out working with it and a hydraulic line busted and sprayed hydraulic oil all over the side of the engine and onto the turbocharger. It flashed on fire when the oil hit that hot turbo. He got it shut down, and by the grace of God, somehow got the fire put out with a 20lb extinguisher that was on the machine. Since the fire was up high, it didn't to very much damage compared to how much fire there actually was. He got lucky, didn't lose the machine. But that's another reason to get the engine shut of ASAP... it gets all that oil stopped flowing which usually ends up being the main fuel for the fire.

[@michaelbaumgardner9493]

Good evening. Hydraulic oil cooler clogged, oil heated up, caused a pin hole in a line just right, oil sprayed onto exhaust. Driver ran. We haul Propane. Get the dang truck and trailer away from populated areas. Drop legs, get truck away from trailer. Our case drop trailer in cornfield out of town, one guy yanked fithwheel release handle while another grabbed 4th an shot out from under trailer. Tick tock tick tock. Took 20# off trailer and both 5# bottles out of truck. Pucker factor maxed out. Still get uneasy about that one. Fire and State Patrol both said coworker that didn't run and I were crazy bonafide fools. Well trailer didn't blow and we both will have 24yrs this yr behind the wheel. Know area's too dump equipment when it hits the fan. Use blockers if possible. Fields are good out in the country is better away from populated areas, buildings. Gotta know blast area how far end caps will travel 1/4" thick 7ft diameter doesn't care about the truck or anything in its way. Be safe everybody.

[@andrewthomas5769]

We found out the hard way that cold weather effects the pressurized fire extinguishers, we had four fail to function. Luckily we had one extinguisher with an external cartridge and that saved us. A year later after I left the company they lost 5 machines in a shop due to fire. 2 980 loaders 972 loader, D8 and a D6.

[@patkelly7999]

Good stuff Tim, wow that was close, fire is very scary and where Ye are with oil, heat and saw dust/ chips, it happens very fast, yes, used to draw silage for My Brother in law, and at the time He ran Deutz tractors, great machines, but they had exposed brake calipers, and grass would lodge and then again oil and heat, You know the story, had a couple of close calls, but we did have extinguishers and water bottles on hand, very glad Ye could save everything, take care out there🙏👍🙂

[@jaredbeasley1246]

Tim our 630e was doin the same thing come find out it was the crankcase filter clogged up..changed that and it should stop pushing oil out

[@MrSparks701]

Great tip on fire extinguisher maintenance. Never considered the powder getting compacted.

[@eriknelson6529]

I'll tell you what Tim 👍. On an upbeat note for maybe once, that is some beautiful wood you're in. Be good. Thank you.

[@danielsweeney6742]

Tim, the luck of the Irish was with you. Glad to hear no one was hurt!

[@joshcunningham9082]

Being prepared and organized doesn't just save machines it also save lives

[@jimhanifer1177]

I'm very happy no one got hurt but yes I've been on fire twice in the woods luckily I've had a good many fire extinguishers around me doesn't take much that's the key is having a good plan like you have too we check our extinguishers once a week keep up the good work

[@cotontop3]

Very true 👍🏻

[@farmerbob728]

Thanks for telling about your day. it's a real wake up call for me to get better.. by tomorrow I'll be more prepared. Your actions saved it from being much worse.

[@theopautsch2311]

The electronic troubles. after a fire can be a big challenge hopefully its not too bad

[@eddie8279]

Glad you shared the importance of maintaining your fire extinguishers! I was in the fire service in the early 80s and it was unbelievable how many times we saw or heard of the extinguisher not functioning because of the powder being packed from vibration and neglect. Glad none of y'all were hurt and that the equipment was saved. Excellent "talking head" commentary.

[@timgiven3826]

I'm glad that everyone made out safely and unharmed. Do you all have class d extinguishers. Thank you for all you do for us to follow along with you on a day to day

[@mikepo182]

I am glad that you and the family are ok. That could have been very serious.

[@joshjansen8429]

We lost our 321d excavator running a mulching head. Over the course of the day enough material made its way around the exhaust

[@northwoodsguy1538]

Glad nobody got hurt. Take care. Thanks for sharing.

[@cotontop3]

Me too 👍🏻

[@alanb9337]

Time to get the 437D & G3 out again? 2154D -send to shop for fixing, might be still worth retrofitting a fire suppression system with 200 lbs of foam etc. I remember seeing the results of a few machine fires. A Bell logger was memorable, a burst hose had created a hydraulic oil mist which had been ignited by the engine exhaust resulting in an explosion and fire.

[@JaredBeaucage]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, this helps a young man like myself, I am 29, been doing this for the last 10 years but full time everyday, the last 5-6 years

[@noahjenkins3941]

My brother caught one of our trackhoes on fire stoking a brush pile. An ember flicked up and burnt a fuel line and some other stuff we got the fire put out. It ended up spending 20k to get a new wire harness and lines and it’s still not right. Like you said it’s always going to be something after you think you have it fixed back right.

[@stephenswader2140]

Every now and then those powder fire extinguishers need to be flipped to keep them from compacting.

[@BillSkidmoreoutside]

We had a cutter spark up, luckily he was on the landing so we had plenty of extinguishers available, caused similar damage to what you have by the sounds of it

[@vincenthopkins6345]

Glad to Mr. Tim that nobody was injured dealing with the fires. Those suggestions are a great idea for fire extinguishers. Is there a reroute for the positive cable so that it doesn't rub, or is that the only way to connect to the starter?

[@timbertom4324]

We have fire suppression systems plus water stream extinguishers and dry chemicals on all machines

[@carlwilliams1570]

We have saved the dozers that push bark on a pile feeding a boiler quite a few times. Most fires are from fines getting on the exhaust. Operators blow them out but its still a risk. A few times it would have been better to loose it. One fire got so hot the front track idler became brittle from the heat and started breaking off pieces. We put a new engine, transmission, wiring harness and under carriage parts on a 18 year old tractor that has run 24/7! It wasn't worth 20K before the fire!

[@scottlambert2949]

Glad you are OK Tim and continue to work safe out there

[@Southalabamaoutdoors]

Difference between saving a piece of equipment and not is making sure every operator knows where extinguishers are and how to properly use them. Spend a hour and remind employees about fire safety

[@derrickpettit3489]

Man that's a day right there, glad no one got hurt, never know what's going to happen on the woods, thanks for sharing tim,💪🇺🇸🌲

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

I am deeply saddened 😬, frightening situation 😳.

[@tb91506]

Correct about no injuries, machines can be replaced or repaired people can’t!!

[@brentmedders]

I probably could have saved a house from fire if I would have had one in my truck. Sad thing is I didn’t and still don’t.Sounds like it’s time I CHANGE THAT!! Had to stand there for what seemed like an infinity with the guy waiting on the County Fire Dept. I really felt bad for the guy.

[@barrybowman7069]

Glad y’all didn’t get hurt!

[@michaeladams8532]

Frightening for sure.Many in logging and farming have showed the horror of equipment fires.They spread so fast

[@cotontop3]

You’re right, very fast.

[@josephboley]

I used to work at a sawmill and the sawdust silo kept trying to catch fire for almost eight days. We finally emptied it. I think it held around 6-7 semi loads.

[@colestroud8300]

You can thank Derek for spilling the beans on tictoc.

[@darynhammons4981]

Nice Vid Tim Glad no one was hurt.

[@AppalachianPatriot]

Compressed Air Foam Units are on all my jobs. They are worth the price.

[@DavidSmith-fw6uj]

The adversary is going 2 and fro 🍔 I will pray 🙏 for all y’all and the equipment ♥️ Love from DeKalb Mississippi USA 🇺🇸 Home of the bloody 43rd Ms

[@haroldrobertson582]

Mr. Cotton, what about the older guy who was crushed on the job several years back? He was an humble fellow. I hope he's ok.???

[@troytreeguy]

Look up the local fire supply shop there’s usually a mobile salesman that will come inspect and replace extinguishers yearly, also they cost a little more but the company can refill and recharge them at a fraction of the cost. At least that what I got going on here in Maine.

[@dutchdog804]

I had a logger once tell me just walk away from it insurance will take care of it.🤣

[@grantrobbins9554]

Sorry to hear about your fires

[@erickleinoder438]

Why back when I was a kid first week back in the woods after break up I had some leaves catch fire on the turbo of the slider. Back then we didn’t have fire extinguisher’s on the machine. So there I am standing on the tire pissing through the side cover trying to put out a fire. The times we have in the woods.

[@johns8771]

Given the environment these machines work in, I'm surprised the manufacturers haven't incorporated some type of fire suppression system on them.

[@johnhaas2523]

newer one maybe have

[@nicke1903]

When I was a firefighter, those machines,trucks, anything with hydraulic fluid....they get going fast, had a shuttle buggy?? (used in paving to feed a paver), a paver (seperate incidents) catch fire those were bad, the buggy made it but the paver didnt, and if the operator would have been on the other side on that paver he woulda been burnt up. Had a trash truck bust a line and spray the exhaust, burnt it up pretty bad, that hydraulic fluid aint no joke.

[@ParadiseLandscapingGA]

Ain’t many things can make a man move real quick but fire is one of them. Good looking loads of hardwood 👍🏼👍🏼

[@jasonharlan6100]

Thankfully I have never had to deal with an equipment fire but I have been saying I need to put an extinguisher on my tractor for when I’m bushhogging

[@josephboley]

Wow I didn't know your loader caught on fire. I'm sorry to hear that bud. I'm just glad you're okay. Sending thoughts and prayers your way.🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@billwilliams9527]

Gosh, what a story, somebody could have easily gotten hurt bad, praise The Lord nobody did.

[@austincook5488]

Glad you guys didn’t get hurt

[@stephenkeefer3436]

No sir Tim. Don’t want to see someone’s bad luck video. Fire doesn’t play. To be sure it’s a good thing no one got hurt. Logging isn’t for kids or slackers. I’ve got extinguishers scattered all over the place. Kitchen, porch by the grill, boat, shed, vehicles… just never know.

[@robeagerton6227]

One of my Grandad’s crews lost a chipper, cutter, and a skidder one Saturday 20 years ago. They were not working they got a call that their equipment was on fire. It was in the middle of the Summer. I don’t think they ever found out for sure what started it but they had to rebuild. Logging is a tough business! By the way my cousin was selling a 2015 model of the same loader you have I don’t know if he has sold it or not.

[@LiLGooZ21]

I had kids take my fire extinguisher and spray it all inside my dump truck cab one night they broke in it on a job... it's a good thing everyone went home after a accident like that... 👍

[@cotontop3]

Stuff like that is aggravating.

[@kdean3059]

I wonder how many fire extinguishers you are going to sell with this video. I know I’m going to buy some more. Thanks for the videos.

[@cotontop3]

Probably got people thinking.

[@walterpugh2930]

Sorry to hear this.

[@dmac5994]

holy crap Tim. glad everyone is safe. machines can be replaced, never before realized how hard it would be to egress the loader in situation like that. stay safe out there. edit: is it possible to add fire bottles to those machines? had seen someone do it, cannot remember who, but was a feller not a loader. maybe too costly though, I don't know. I just dealt with fire bottles in a/c so thought crossed my mind.

[@brianmoats6301]

I was running a 859ml I believe was the numbers John Deere feller buncher with a hot saw it caught on fire on me

[@JaredBeaucage]

Just a question, I run excavators, with mulcher heads and all that. I go to shake my 20 Pounder on my excavator and it doesnt feel like anything is happening, It says it is charged. I heard this thing that these tracked machines vibrate the extinguishers. I have a 20 pounder in my truck also. Wait you answered the question.

[@JrandSuesFarm]

Ruff day hang in there

[@robertpage2927]

Had fire in shop they never went into location or nothing I grabbed one got it out 4 other guys couldn't find one or wouldn't work I happen to get the only one in shop that did we had someone came in to service them he had been there month before half done job they had major damage to customer car because of not planning

[@txman201]

BTW, if you check with the manufacturers of the hand-held dry extinguishers, you'll learn that is not a requirement that the retardant be "loose" inside the vessel for the extinguisher to work correctly. The idea that it must be like loose powder in the vessel is an old wives' tale, so to speak. Your story about shaking them is fully bull-poop and not necessary. Once upon a time, I even had a print-out of the manufacturer's statement that I carried in my boat. I had a warden try to tell me my fire extinguisher was no good. He got to read the paper I produced, of course.

[@glennwilliams6286]

Gald no one was hurt.

[@josephboley]

Good morning there Mr Tim. Hope your doing well bud 👍✌️🙏

[@cotontop3]

We doing good.

[@patricklacasse2877]

Why do you put all the logs on the truck in one direction? Couldn’t you get more in by alternating?

[@cotontop3]

Because the mills require the trees to be butt forward and the truck is loaded to the max road weight we can haul.

[@matthewgalligan8112]

Another if u have a electrical fire u can kill the power to the machine an also put a fire out

[@georgehoff8909]

24 volts is very mean yall

[@blakewettlaufer3156]

What loader do you run? Our 2154 caught fire last summer. It got a harness and a handful of hoses

[@cotontop3]

It’s same loader.