Barn on Fire!

Animals are difficult to evacuate from a burning building and unconfined animals will run back in. Other hazards common to farms include fuel and propane tanks chemicals such as fertilizer and crop sprays hay stacks cutting torches and manure piles making the situation more difficult and dangerous.
Horse barn fires are the most common of all farm fires yet investigations have shown that most of these fires could have been prevented. Although there is no such thing as a fireproof barn fortunately we dont have to wait for a tragedy to motivate us to start fireproofing our barns and implementing fire prevention strategies.
Fire prevention should be incorporated into your regular barn management practices. Your local fire department can provide fire safety information and can also inspect your barn and farm to suggest ways to reduce risks and identify hazards. Enlist the assistance of your local fire department for a fire prevention safety visit and to provide recommendations for a preplan.
Lets take a look at the fire prevention and safety measures you can implement in and around the barn. The planning and preparation you do now will greatly reduce the likelihood of a barn fire and help save lives should a fire occur.
Checklist For Fire Safety
There are many steps that can be taken to establish good fire prevention practices. The following are particularly important
Outside

• My address is posted very clearly in reflective numbers and can be visibly seen from both directions on the road.
• I have contacted the fire department and they have given me minimum height and width requirements and turning radius for their vehicles.
• My driveway and road can accommodate my fire departments vehicles there are no overhanging branches and the roadway is gravel or other improved base.
• My parking area does not impinge on access or turning room for emergency vehicles and no
  one is allowed to park in front of the stable other than for temporary loading and unloading.