A helpful resource for horse and barn owners.
DID YOU KNOW? During 2006—2010 an estimated 830 structure fires in barns per year were reported to U.S. fire departments, with associated losses of $28 million in property damage annually.
Leading Cause of Fires in Barns (top 6):
% Fires Per Year 23% = 191 barns
Heating equipment
Heat lamps are the leading equipment involved in the ignition of barn fires, followed by wiring, lamp, light bulb or lighting.
16% = 133 barns
Electrical distribution
8% = 66 barns
Exposure
6% = 50 barns
Intentional
Fires are more common during the colder months of the year (peaking in January), between noon and 9:00 p.m.
% Fires Per Year
An agricultural crop, such as hay, is the leading item first ignited in these fires (15%), followed by a structural member or framing (13%).
Spontaneous combustion
3% = 25 barns
Playing with heat source
3% = 25 barns
0%
5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Source: Structure Fires in Barns, Ben Evarts, NFPA Fire Analysis and Research, Quincy, MA, June 2012
PREVENTION * PREVENTION * PREVENTION Your key to avoiding disaster.
Barn fire safety, as we see it, falls into three categories: 1. Prevention 2. Evacuation Plans and Responding to Fire Emergency 3. Education for Building a New Barn
If prevention is practiced in every barn, old and new, you will never
need to implement your evacuation and emergency plans. Older barns require much more maintenance, but we should all be vigilant and demanding about caring for our barns and the precious lives that depend on us to protect them.
1. NO SMOKING—never allow smoking within 50 yards (150 ’ of a barn). This includes EVERYONE. Measure out 150’ and put no smoking signs up that far away, if that’s what it takes. 2. DO NOT STORE HAY AND SHAVINGS IN BARN—However, if this is your only option, make sure hay is not packed tightly, is well ventilated and moisture levels are not above 25% in the hay bales. Combustion is real. 3. NO BOX FANS– they are not rated for outdoor use and do not have closed motors. Only use closed motor fans rated for outdoor use in barns. Farmtek and other farm supply companies sell properly rated fans. Also, please encourage your fellow equestrian to NOT use these fans at shows. 4. NO LAMP TIMERS—cheap lamp timers are responsible for overheating and causing fires. They are not rated for outdoor use. 5. STALL LIGHTING—should be caged and high enough that a rearing horse cannot dislodge the fixture. 6. NO PERMANENT USE OF EXTENSION CORDS—never leave extension cords plugged in while you are not in the barn. Have your barn wired by a licensed electrician to support the necessary appliances to be used. Never run an extension cord where it can come in contact with water and never used a damaged extension cord. 7. NO SPACE HEATERS—never, never use space heaters with open heat elements. Bed Bath & Beyond sells a recommended heater with a 24 hour built in timer called Safe Heat, by Delonghi. Follow directions for minimum clearances to combustible objections. 8. NO GAS APPLIANCES OR FAMMABLE LIQUIDS—never have a flame source in your barn and do not store flammable liquids such as paints, mineral spirits, gas, batteries not in use, tractors with gas, propane cylinders, etc., under the same roof as your horses. 9. NO CRITTERS—kill or deter mice, rats, squirrels that are nesting in your barn. They chew wires and Romex (plastic coating) and commonly cause fires. Invest in having your wires run through metal or pvc conduit. 10. KEEP OUTLETS COVERED—with plastic or metal outlet covers to keep dust and cobwebs out of the outlets. Ask your electrician about these. 11. DO NOT COVER exposed wiring or extension cords with blankets or saddle pads, etc. They can overheat and cause fire. 12. DO NOT LEAVE ANY APPLIANCE PLUGGED IN WHILE YOU ARE GONE. 13. ROUTINELY CHECK—for damage or wear at all electrical connections including water heater, fly system, heating strips, any appliance or anything plugged in. Check any incoming wires to the barn, especially after storms. 14. GOOD HOUSEKEEPING—dusty barns should be cleaned often. Dust and cobwebs are extremely easy to ignite. 15. KEEP GRASS AND WEEDS MOWED around the barn. 16. KEEP TREE LIMBS AWAY—falling tree limbs can break and damage electrical lines, cause damage to roofs where water can enter and cause electrical shorts. Make sure tree limbs are cut back and not hanging over your roof or any wires. 17. RESTRICT ACCESS to your barn. Monitor your farm for curious teenagers or kids who don’t belong and educate those who do have permission to be on your farm. 18. MAKE IT KNOWN—Post signs in and around your barn to remind people of barn fire safety and prevention. 19. CREATE A MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND ACCURATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS—post it where you will notice it. Have electrical inspection regularly (see next page). Check your roof regularly for leaks or broken seals as water can short out electrical receptacles. Clean/dust fans and light fixtures monthly (YES, even in winter). 20. NIGHT CHECK—are all appliances unplugged? Heaters off? Shutting off breaker to barn is also a good idea at night.
Electrical inspection items 1. Always use a licensed electrician who is familiar with Agricultural codes. 2. At very least, inspect wiring 15 years and older. After being exposed to the elements and critters, wires become loose, brittle, can snap and arch. 3. Best to run wiring through metal or pvc conduit to protect from critters. 4. Have electrician inspect panel breaker box and mark with yellow or red flag or neon tape so it can be seen easily during a fire. 5. Have electrician install a switch on the outside of the barn that will cut off all electrical power to the barn without cutting off power to the well, telephones, etc. Mark it well with neon or glow in the dark marker. 6. Have every outlet checked to make sure they are functioning properly and that outlet covers are in place. Make sure GFIs are installed in aisles, wash racks, by patios, sinks or any place water can be present. 7. Make sure outlets are out of animal’s reach. 8. Electrician can install a surge protector in the panel breaker box as well as arch fault breakers for the lighting receptacles. 9. Check to make sure there are no roof leaks. Water can short out light receptacles.
Emergency Preparedness 1. Have a plan and practice your plan every year. 2. Make sure you have hoses in your barn connected to spigots that can reach the length of the barn. 3. Make a call to your local Fire Marshal today to make sure they have your correct mapping in their GIS system to find you if there is an emergency. 4. Make sure your street address is clearly visible from the main road. 5. Mount EXIT signs inside the barn at main doors even if not required by your local fire code. You cannot see through dense smoke and every second will count. 6. If special directions are needed to reach your farm, post these clearly on an emergency information sign (preferably posted directly outside of the barn) so anyone can give correct directions to emergency personnel. 7. If you have roads to the barn that are not paved or graveled, consider doing so. Emergency trucks cannot easily get through muddy roads. 8. Keep all road access to your barn clear—do not block with parked cars, trailers, etc. 9. Keep all aisles, stall doors, barn doors and stairways clear of debris and/or equipment. 10. Help educate your local Fire Marshals if they are not familiar with horses or large animals. Some rural fire departments actually have large animal rescue programs, but if not, maybe a large animal rescue organization in the area can be of educational assistance. 11. Designate at least two assembly areas away from the barn (primary and secondary) where horses can be safely contained away from flames, smoke and the commotion of fire trucks, etc. 12. Great idea to keep emergency halters and a fire extinguisher at the entrance of the barn.
Emergency and Evacuation 1. Call 911 immediately even if a small fire and say ‘I HAVE A HORSE STABLE FIRE AT (YOUR ADDRESS)’. Let them know there are animals involved. 2. If safe to enter the barn, evacuate animals one at a time, starting with the most accessible ones. Never let horses loose in an area where they are able to return to the barn. 3. Blindfold horses only if absolutely necessary. Time is critical. 4. Once you have escaped a large fire, do not re-enter the structure. Smoke and falling timbers are fatal. √
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Make sure you have the correctly rated fire extinguishers placed at the entrances and every 50 feet in your barn. Know how to use them. Check the charge level periodically. Have a fire extinguisher training class for your barn, even if informal. Everyone should know where they are and how to use them. Your local fire department may assist.
Other important things to know…
1. If you are on a well and happen to have an electrical fire you will not have access to water! If you can run County water to the barn, that is ideal. Or, ask your electrician about putting the well on a separate breaker box by the meter (not incorporated into the barn’s panel box) to prevent loss of water in case of electrical fire. 2. Always get a fire permit as required and make your local fire department aware if you are going to burn brush. 3. Never burn anything closer than 100’ of a barn. Never leave it unattended. Never burn during any kind of wind or drought. Always have a hose line ready. 4. Although more complicated, investigate having a dry fire hydrant installed on your property if you have a lake or pond and cannot get County water nearby. 5. Contact Fire Safety Protection companies to discuss many options of smoke detectors, alarm and sprinkler systems for barns. They are pricey, but in some cases it might be worth the expense if you have a large stable. ...Might even lower your insurance costs. Building a new barn?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Ask your local fire marshal for any agricultural fire codes they might enforce. Hire and work with an educated builder who is familiar with agricultural structures. Make sure your builder hires a licensed electrician who is familiar with Agricultural fire codes. Do your homework on types of lighting. LED lighting is becoming more popular because of lower cost but also because they are not hot. Halogen lighting is the hottest. Try to avoid. Install and use heat lamps with extreme caution making sure they are on properly rated timers installed by licensed electricians. Have licensed electrician hard wire fans, lights, etc. DO NOT USE EXTENSION CORDS. Make sure your builder provides enough water faucets/spigots and the water pressure is strong. Make room for fire extinguishers at every entrance. Hire a licensed electrician who is familiar with agricultural codes and will install the breaker panel correctly with an exterior cut off. Budget to build a smaller building or storage at least 50’ away from the barn to store hay/shavings, tractors and combustible liquids.
Helpful Resources: The Humane Society has an excellent source of publications to educate about barn fire safety: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/Horse-Barn-Fire-Publication.pdf http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/disaster_preparedness_-_barn.html National Fire Protection Association CODES & STANDARDS USEFUL IN PROTECTING BARNS NFPA 150: Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities www.nfpa.org/150 Lightning Information www.lightning.org Please join us in our efforts to educate and promote barn fire safety. Contact us or go to the website www.normorebarnfires.com to download this brochure free of charge to distribute at events. Also, please feel free to post tips and updates on our facebook page: No More Barn Fires.
Creators and Contributors: June Brewer
Lori DePucci
Pagan Gilman
Robert Patterson
Facebook Support and Design Cell 678-677-4404 horseprint@aol.com GAHorseEvents.com
Harry Norman Realtors® Cell 678-772-4373 loridepucci@bellsouth.net HorseFarmsOfGeorgia.com
Lisa Seger Insurance Phone: 770-283-7344 pagan@lisasegerinsurance.com GA License: 2842745
Technical Support and Design Atlanta Saddlery 770.475.1967 . 800.356.7203 AtlantaSaddlery.com
It costs nothing to share, share, share... Updated December 2014