I attended a Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue training in September that had a simulated barn fire demonstration. Class members who were fire fighters put on turn out gear for the mock rescue. One class member acted as the owner and another acted as a neighbor. The owner was able to save two horses and the neighbor helped rescue one before the firefighters determined it was unsafe for them to continue. Standing in a stall and watching the rescue opens your eyes to potential things that can slow the rescue down and how hard it would be in a real barn fire. For example, they had trouble opening the door latches and they could not get halters on some horses and wasted time trying to halter them.
Fire Basics
Fires can occur at any time, but most fires occur in the winter. Fire investigation experts estimate that over 85% of unintentional barn fires are due to human error (such as smoking) or electrical malfunctions. Most fires burn rapidly and there is a three to five minute window to save an animal. A volunteer fire department is usually the first responder and their main job is to rescue humans first. The owner and bystanders may be the horse rescuers. Animals generally die from smoke inhalation or effects of radiant heat, not direct fire contact.
Fire Prevention Measures
Prevention, preparation and planning is the key to fire protection. The following are steps to reduce the chances of a fire in your facility. All horse barns have the following things in common: wood construction – either total or partial; bedding straw or shavings in stalls; storage of hay, bedding straw, or shavings in close proximity to the barns; highly combustible materials within (leather, blankets, ropes, etc.); and people.
Have a fire plan that is posted in visible areas in the barn, at the front gate, with a neighbor and at the local fire department. The plan should have exact directions to the barn. Being able to tell the dispatcher where the farm is located can decrease the time it takes the fire department to get to the fire. Other plan items should include the barn layout, number of stalls and horses on site, water supply, electric supply shut-off switch or breaker, hay storage, hazardous materials, emergency contact numbers including the veterinarian, and location of pastures and holding areas.
Contact your local fire department or the county Fire Marshall for a barn walk through/inspection. A set of eyes that is trained in fire prevention can make recommendations on unsafe practices that you may not be aware of. They will be familiar with your facility in case of a fire and can tell you if you need to modify anything such as fire truck access to the barn.
Practice your plan at least every three months and every month for public facilities or boarding barns. Learn to use a fire extinguisher and make sure they are located in the barn and are easy to access.
Keep the barn neat and clean. Dispose of debris (especially flammable debris) regularly. Avoid storing hay and bedding in the barn. It is recommended to store it in another building. Keep the alleyway in front of stalls free of debris and open at all times to give easy access to each stall door in case of fire. Have halters and lead ropes easily accessible on stall doors.
Do not allow smoking in the barns, stalls, tack rooms, or sheds. No open fires or flames should be allowed. Install an adequate number of water outlets and have hoses attached to each.
Check all electrical wiring periodically for frayed ends, doubled-up extension cords, and other hazards. Replace them as needed. All electrical appliances used in the barn area must be in safe working condition, kept a safe distance from flammable materials, and not left unattended. Fans should be rated for agricultural use – many fires are attributed to household window fans with their lightweight electrical cords. Electrical wiring should be contained in a metal conduit to prevent rodents from chewing on them and creating a fire hazard.
In addition to these steps, there are construction considerations and designs that may protect your barn such as layout, materials, sprinkler systems, and early warning devices.
What to Do in Case of a Fire
You have seconds to put your plan into action.
1. Call 911. You may get the fire under control, but the fire department can make sure that it is completely out.
2. Have a person open all outside access gates to let the emergency vehicles onto the property quickly. Have them wait at the road to guide emergency responders and make sure the road or driveway stays clear.
3. With your safety and the safety of other rescuers in mind, begin evacuating horses. Use halters and lead ropes that are hung next to the stalls.
4. Move the animals to a holding area away from the barn and out of the way of firefighting equipment. Don’t let the horse’s loose outside because they may either run back into the barn or get in the way of firefighters’ efforts.
5. Carefully remove blankets, halters or other material on the horses. Hose off horses by spraying water into the air simulating rain.
6. Any horse which has survived a barn fire should be seen by a veterinarian even if they appear well.
