Sparks in a Fan Outlet at 3 A.M., How a Farm Fire Was Prevented
- Simon Touchette
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 9
| Why answering the call, even at 3 A.M., matters
It was 3:00 a.m. Most people are asleep, but not our client, and not our team.
That night, one of our customers received an alert from their PrevTech unit. Instead of waiting until morning or trying to troubleshoot alone, they made a decision that may have prevented a farm fire, they called our 24/7 support line right away.
Our on-call expert didn’t just take the call. They guided the customer through a step-by-step, real-time investigation, staying on the line to help locate the source of the issue as it happened.
By working with one of our experts, the client identified the root cause, and a potentially serious situation was brought under control quickly.
| Farm fire prevention requires proactive action from everyone
A collaboration between our experts and our clients
Together, we determined that several factors likely contributed to the incident:
Extremely cold temperatures created conditions that increased condensation on a less-insulated wall-mounted panel.
A faulty outlet feeding a fan may have had enough internal space for moisture to enter between conductive components.
This created conditions for electrical arcing, which can generate damaging heat and spark ignition.
Early detection and fast response helped prevent potential spread to the structure.
When it comes to electrical safety on farms, it’s rarely one single factor, it’s the combination of environment, equipment condition, and timing. The difference is what happens next, detect early, respond quickly, and act safely.
| How our expert team makes the difference
Electrical issues can escalate fast, especially in agricultural environments where dust, humidity, cold snaps, and heavy equipment loads are part of daily operations.
That’s why our experts are available when you need them, to help you identify the cause of an issue before it becomes critical, whether that’s:
a farm electrical fire risk,
an equipment failure, or
an operations shutdown.
Proactive monitoring + expert guidance can turn a 3 A.M. alert into a safe outcome.
