Don’t Let Your Greenhouse Go Up in Flames: What You Need to Know About Summer Fire Risks

The risk of fires is increasing during the hot summer months.

Magnifying glass fires are a frequent issue in crop cultivation areas like greenhouses. These fires occur when stagnant water or greenhouse mirrors concentrate sunlight to a single point, causing a fire.

JTBC experimented to highlight these risks. On a sunny day, puddles of water on plastic acted like a magnifying glass, focusing sunlight and generating heat that could reach up to 500 degrees Celsius instantly.

During the experiment, sunlight concentrated on black paper quickly produced smoke and burned a hole through it. Dry hay ignited in just 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

This illustrates how rainwater pooling on greenhouse ceilings or reflected sunlight can pose serious fire hazards.

Kim Jeong Hak, a forensic support team leader at the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, detailed the conditions under which these fires occur and emphasized the need for caution when the sun shines brightly after rain.

Objects that reflect light, such as stainless steel basins, also require careful handling. Ha Chan Young, a fire investigator at the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters, noted incidents where sunlight reflected off stainless steel bowls ignited garlic or paper notebooks.

Even mirrors placed on top of washing machines have caused fires. Lee Sang Hwan, a fire investigator at Gimhae East Fire Station, stressed that fires can occur depending on the angle of sunlight reflection.

Over 200 magnifying glass fires have been reported in the past six years, with 50 incidents occurring in 2018 during a severe heatwave.

With this year’s high temperatures, farmers must check for water accumulation in greenhouses. Avoid placing objects that can concentrate light near windows to reduce fire risks and ensure proper water management. Following safety guidelines is more important than ever.