Its inevitable. As a coffee roaster you have to be prepared for the worst. A fire in your roaster or in your ventilation system will likely happen at one point or another. With proper maintenance and training, this scary scenario can be avoided for the most part, but you must be prepared and ensure all staff are properly trained in the even that such a situation should arise.

Roast Magazine has run a number of articles on fire safety and prevention. There is sound advice in all of the articles and I’d highly recommend to anyone roasting coffee to read these and take them very seriously.

In addition, a roaster friend of mine recently posted a video which shows the simplest way to extinguish a fire that has started in the drum of your roaster. Watch the video below.

Always be prepared, and get out before its too late if the fire becomes unmanageable.