California Fire Caused By Bull...

[Frank B]

...sh*t?

A wildfire burning near the Southern California city of Moorpark that has grown to 6,000 acres as hot and dry Santa Ana winds sweep the region, may have been caused by cow manure...
Full Story Here: (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,553883,00.html?test=latestnews)

[RAyers]

Sure. Our manure piles at the barn get hot enough to catch fire when we get high winds that provide oxygen to the interior. The interior of manure piles can get well above ignition temperature but because there is no oxygen they don't. This is all due to the decomposition of the manure, just like backyard compost piles.

[Threedaydream]

Yeah... we have some BIG cow farms out here. And some REALLY big piles of sh*t. I can definitely see that beeing possible. Especially because often times the piles are covered with plastic that is held down by tires, which are pretty flammable.

[suze]

Well, as one who was once awakened by a fire chief on my patio telling me the manure pile was on fire, I have no problem believing it. The pile had gotten way too large (think nobody hauling out manure from approx. 150 horses for years) and as more was added and the piles got higher & more compact it started burning on the inside. Finally broke through to the outside & the BO was told to get rid of the whole thing. All manure now goes in construction dumpsters that are hauled out every week.

[kookicat]

I've seen it happen with muck piles over here.

[camohn]

Outs gets spread every 6 months and yup...the middle steams when you dig in !!

[Daydream Believer]

You know...I just read that article three times and I can't see where it says cow manure may have started it. Do you think they may have changed it for some reason? It may be that I'm only on my first cup of coffee and I'm just not awake enough to read yet.;)

[Frank B]

The link has been changed.

[Daydream Believer]

Interesting...perhaps an error or someone cattle ranchers did not appreciate being blamed? Bad PR for the beef industry again?