Fire Safety on the Horse Farm

Barn fires are every horse owners worst nightmare one that can bring significant emotional and economic loss. However the sad fact is that many barn fires could have largely been prevented by applying a few basic principles. The most reliable approach to fire safety is to plan for the worst by having solid procedures in place for fire prevention and adhere to them daily. 
Education awareness and planning are key to minimizing the risk of fire says Victor MacPherson District Chief of the AdjalaTosorontio Fire Department. Barn fires still continue to happen though we try our best as we are lacking the education connection with the property owner he says. The reasons we encounter barn fires result from years of improper setup poor maintenance and poor house cleaning. 

Fire is caused when fuel and ignition sources meet. Hay bedding and wooden materials are common examples of fuel found on the farm while improperly cured hay electrical malfunctions and carelessness with smoking are common sources of ignition. Practicing simple protection and prevention techniques will help keep these two elements from contact. 
Data released in 2012 by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management in Ontario indicated 57 6 million in losses in buildings classified under the National Farm Building Code in 2007 notes Ralph Snyder Assistant District Chief of the AdjalaTosorontio Fire Department. This represents a 67 4 percent increase over the previous years loss of 34 4 million due to fire. With the evolution toward largescale farming and associated farm buildings increasing in value the financial losses continue to climb. 
When these large structures catch fire they are more difficult to control and extinguish resulting in greater financial losses to both the structure and its contents he adds.
In order to offset any potential fire hazards Snyder recommends having an annual electrical inspection done by a qualified electrician to check for signs of deterioration or corrosion and repair any issues that are found.
In addition all electrical wiring switches or plugs should be placed well out of a horses reach and covered in weatherproof boxes or conduit. All light fixtures should be caged and approved for stable use. When not in use electrical equipment should be unplugged and properly stored away. Special attention should be paid to water bucket heaters as they continue to heat even when the water bucket is empty. This could result in the plastic melting and