Stop The Burn
T
he recent tragic fire at Classy Lane Stables, which took the lives of 43 horses,
has had a deep impact on horse owners. It is a reminder of how vulnerable
we are and how often barn fires are fatal
to our animals. The best way to save your horse’s
life in a barn fire is often by taking steps to eliminate barn fire hazards.
• Be sure your address and the entrance to
your property are clearly visible from the main
road.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), more stable and barn fires happen during the months of January, February and
March, times when there may be less traffic in and
out of the barn in general. It is also a time when
space heaters, heated buckets, portable water
heaters, etc are most likely to be in use.
• Host an open house for emergency services
personnel in your area to familiarize them with
the layout of your property. Many County Animal Response Teams (CART) put on “How to
Save Your Horse” seminars. Consider hosting
or attending one.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, defective or improperly used heating equipment is the number one cause of
barn and stable fires. Heating equipment was
the cause of nearly one-quarter of barn fires,
the main culprit being heat lamps.
To help reduce the risk of fire be sure to inspect
heating equipment daily for wear, use non-combustible chain to support them, and exercise
common sense by keep flameable items like hay,
shavings and bailing twine away from them.
There are some other steps that you can consider
taking to help in the event of an emergency:
• Install smoke alarms and heat detectors
throughout the barn. Most fires happen between 7pm and 7am so consider an alert
system that triggers into a living space.
• Organize a fire drill at your barn. Make sure
everyone knows what to do in the event of an
emergency. Post the escape plan in a visible
area. Familiarize your animals with emergency procedures and common activities they
would encounter during a disaster.
• Make sure aisles stay clear. In the event
of an emergency seconds count and clutter
slows. Park tractors outside, keep extra bedding away from the main barn.
• Put access aisles throughout the barn and
have working fire extinguishers at each exit.e