Photo provided by the Luther Farm.
There is not much that can punch a farmer in the gut quite like the two little words, “barn fire”! Those two words take your breath away, send a chill up your back and cause anxiety all in one fell swoop. If you haven’t experienced that yourself, I am pretty sure you know someone that has.
The majority of barn fires end with tragic, costly, or even heartbreaking outcomes. These losses can include loss of human life, livestock or valuable equipment and in many cases loss of the barn structure itself.
According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, barn fires are common during both the winter and summer months. Winter barn fires are often the result of heating equipment while fans are one of the leading causes of summer barn fires. Spontaneous combustion of hay bales and lightning strikes also top the list.
Most barns are essentially a tinderbox, with hay, dust, cobwebs and wood mingling with electricity and potentially hot hay bales. It’s one of the most difficult things you can defend against, but there are ways to reduce your risk and prevent massive loss.
One of the most important steps to take is to create a fire plan. Have fire and emergency contact numbers posted in prominent locations. Plan an emergency exit route for livestock that leads to a fenced area away from the barn, also consider how to prevent livestock from trying to re-enter the barn while it is on fire. Finally, teach family or employees the fire plan and walk through it at least annually.
Additional barn fire prevention tips that can be used to minimized risk of a fire include:
* No smoking should be allowed in or near the barn. Post signs!
* Maintain good housekeeping by removing combustible materials such as feed bags, oily rags, hay debris, excessive dust, or stored fuels.
* Don’t allow debris to pile up in or around your barn. Clean up old wood, empty pallets and piles of dead brush and trash.
* If flammables such as fuels must be store in the barn, isolated them in a safe areaway from ignition sources and consider using a flammable storage cabinet.
* Make sure electrical wiring is in good condition. All breaker panels and electrical boxes should have the proper covers in place. Keep all electrical components clean, free from layers of dust or cobwebs.
* Use industrial grade extension cords, keeping them out of reach or travel path of livestock to prevent them from stepping on or chewing the cords. Also, do not connect several cords together; use a longer cord for longer distances.
* Fans are one of the leading causes of summer barn fires. House fans are NOT made to withstand the dust in a barn. Dust can clog up the motor and cause a fire.
* Place fire extinguishers strategically in barn near electrical panels or potential ignition sources. Check the extinguishers regularly.
* In a barn or building, maximum travel distance to a fire extinguisher should not exceed 75 feet. Add additional fire extinguishers if needed.
* Portable space heaters should not be left unattended and turned off when you leave the area. Space heaters should also have a shut-off device that activates if the unit is knocked over.
* Follow the manufactures guidelines when using water tank heaters, heat tape or heat lamps. Keep heat lamps the recommended distance from combustibles such as bedding, cardboard boxes or dry lumber.
* Store hay and other feed properly to prevent spontaneous combustion.
Let’s face it, it’s unrealistic to think that you could do EVERYTHING on that list, especially since many of us have our haylofts above our livestock’s head. But right now might be a good time to review your list of fire safety precautions. Take an afternoon to inspect your barn for any problems, and if you find a discrepancy, fix it immediately.
Information gathered from The Ohio State University Ag Safety Coordinator
