Preventing Barn Fires

Inside view of a clean barn

A barn fire is one of an equestrian’s worst nightmares. With the potential for tremendous property damage as well as the irreplaceable loss of your horses, ponies, and livestock, a barn fire comes with a tremendous cost, both financially and emotionally. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, over 680,000 livestock animals died in barn fires in 2021. Let’s discuss ways that you can prevent this devastating disaster and safeguard your horses…and protect yourself against becoming one of these horrifying statistics.

Prevention Tactics

The best way to prevent barn fires is to take a long, hard look at your facility and see where the potential dangers lie. From hay and straw to the wood structure, barns are fodder for fire and burn exceedingly quickly once they are ignited. In fact, the Ontario Farm Animal Council reports,  “It only takes three to four minutes of the fire starting for the barn to be filled with smoke. A barn will be completely engulfed in less than six minutes.”

In order for a barn fire to occur, three different items must be present: fuel for the fire, oxygen, and an ignition source. The hay, shavings, and dry wood in the barn are, unfortunately, excellent fuel for a fire. Additionally, the ventilation in your barn ensures that there is plenty of oxygen available. That means it is your responsibility to limit the risk of ignition in the barn — after all, the ignition is the missing “ingredient” in the “recipe” for a barn fire. Follow our list of prevention tactics to make your farm a safer place for you and your animals.

Check Wiring Frequently

Electrical malfunction is one of the biggest reasons for preventable fires in barns. In addition to the electrical work itself, make sure that you pay close attention to anything that plugs into an outlet. Heat lamps, box fans, and extension cords have all been shown to be hazardous in certain situations. Whenever possible, unplug items whenever they are not in use and make sure that you do not overload extension cords. In the barn, you should only use heavy-duty extension cords that are rated for outdoor use. Some barns have an outside switch that turns off all the electricity into the barn, which makes it easy to ensure everything is turned off.

Pests, such as mice and chipmunks, have a tendency to chew on wiring as they build tunnels and nests. Make it a priority to visually inspect the condition of your wiring on a regular basis, to ensure that it is not a fire hazard. If you suspect wire damage due to rodents or another incident, be sure to contact your electrician immediately. Consider installing metal wiring covers to prevent rodents from chewing through the electrical work. 

Space heaters and water heaters can be fire hazards. While it is cold in the barn during the brutal winter months, try to use space heaters sparingly and make sure that they are supervised at all times. If you choose to use water heaters or deicers, it is essential that they are approved for farm use and you make sure that there is ample amounts of water covering the heating elements at all times.

Install Lighting Covers

Dust and cobwebs can quickly heat up and ignite when they are on light bulbs. One of the easiest ways to keep your lightbulbs clean and safe is to install lighting covers. These protective covers keep the cobwebs, dust, and other foreign materials away from the lightbulb. Additionally, they help to keep the light from breaking—making them a barn safety must!

No Smoking

One of the easiest ways to prevent barn fires is to make a strict No Smoking policy at your farm. Hay and shavings are highly flammable, which means that even the ash from a cigarette can start to smolder and ignite in seconds. In fact, careless smoking is one of the top causes of preventable barn fires. Make sure that everyone who visits and works in your barn understands that this is a non-negotiable policy for the health, well-being, and safety of your animals. You will also want to hang “No Smoking” signs, such as the eye-catching “Do Not Smoke” Fergus Sign, to alert newcomers of the policy.

Store Hay in a Separate Building

In New England, it is common to keep hay in the barn, over the horses, in the hay loft. This is highly convenient, but it can also pose a fire hazard. Hay, particularly if it is not completely dry when baled, can rapidly heat up and can even burst into flames. If possible, keep the hay in a different building, away from the horses. This will keep the animals safe, even if the hay ignites. If this is not an option in your location, be sure that the hay is completely dry prior to storing it in the barn. 

You should routinely check the hay for heat by sticking your hand into the middle of your stack in between bales; if it is hot, separate the bales immediately to allow them to continue to dry. Make sure that you check the hay frequently during the first months of having it in the barn since that is when it is the most likely to ignite. If you sense that the bales are warm, separate the hay quickly and remove it from the barn if at all possible. You can also use a probe thermometer to check the hay temperature, generally speaking, 125 degrees and below is safe; 150 degrees is cause for concern; and at 175 degrees fire is imminent.

Many New England farmers advocate for “salting” the hay prior to storage. By using water-softening salt or table salt between the bales and on the floor where you are storing the hay, you can create a saline environment that helps to dry the hay while also preventing mold from growing. Anecdotal evidence shows success with this practice, however, no studies have returned conclusive results. Regardless, it does not affect the nutritional value of the hay, because the majority of the salt drops off the hay when it is being fed and the amount that your horse ingests is negligible. You can read more about this practice in our blog post, Your Guide to Buying and Storing Hay.

Look At Your Bedding

Some beddings, such as straw, are highly flammable and burn at nearly the same rate as gasoline. Other beddings, like shavings and pellets, burn at a slightly slower rate than straw, and in the case of a fire, every moment counts.

Remove the Cobwebs

While they may seem innocuous, cobwebs are more than a barn cleaning nightmare. Cobwebs are highly flammable and can help fire spread through the barn rapidly. Remove the cobwebs regularly, a designated broom works well to reach the corners and the ceiling.

Install Lightning Rods

A properly installed lightning rod system can protect your barn against lightning strikes, especially if it is in the middle of a field without many trees or other structures around it (as so many are!). According to the article, When Lightning Strikes, “Lightning rods are misunderstood in a number of ways. They don’t attract lightning, one is not sufficient for a whole building, nor are they standalone units—they are part of an integrated system consisting of rods, conductor cable, and ground rods.” This system can divert the lightning strike so that it does not hit your barn. You can also protect your electric fencing from the harmful effects of lightning by utilizing a lightning arrestor, like the Zareba Lightning Arrestor; these prevent the electricity from shorting out your fence charger.

Concentrate on Clean

Keeping the barn floor, walls, and ceiling from clutter, dust and flammable materials is a way to limit the fodder for the fire in case of emergency. It also makes walking in and out of the barn a much safer experience for both the horses and the humans. Try to keep aisleways as clear as possible, with excess hay, straw, and shavings cleaned up and removed. When you are sweeping a dusty or hay-filled loft, sweep slowly to prevent friction and sparks from the broom.

Look at the Landscaping

Take a careful look at the landscaping around the barn. It is important that you clear shrubbery from around the barn, so that it does not add fodder to potential fires. Some plants, including ornamental juniper, cypress, rosemary, arborvitae, and eucalyptus are highly flammable. Additionally, make sure that you mow or weed whack around the barn to remove excess vegetation.

Consider Vehicle Storage

It may be convenient to keep the tractors, ATVs, and other equipment inside the barn, but this can prove to be a fire hazard. Not only can they leak flammable materials, but if they backfire they can also cause a spark. Whenever possible, store your farm machinery in an area separate from the barn.

Move Flammable Materials

Designate an area, away from your barn, to store flammable materials and chemicals. If you need to store items such as paint, pesticide, engine oil, and gasoline, consider placing them in a shed that is not attached to your barn. This provides a buffer of protection for your horses.

You should also remove oily rags, such as those used to clean up after mechanical work, immediately. Sometimes, rags covered in linseed oil (a popular leather conditioner), can self-ignite if left in a pile. Always dispose of oil-covered rags in a metal container away from the barn.

Install Warning Systems and Suppression Systems

Smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and fire suppression systems can help to alert you and slow the blaze in the event of a fire. Look for products that are farm-rated, so that they can handle the unique challenges of a barn. Additionally, ABC (all class) dry-chemical fire extinguishers should be placed wherever people tend to congregate, in the tack room for example, as well as every 50-75’ down the barn aisle.

Water Supply

If the fire department does need to visit your barn, they will need an adequate supply of water to fight the fire. Frost-free hydrants should be placed by each main entrance and should be easily accessible. It may be beneficial to make a pathway to a pond or stream (if on your land) from where the firefighters would be able to pump water. It is also helpful to have extra hoses available to help transport water in emergency situations.

Make A Plan

Even with the best practices and systems in place, sometimes disaster can still occur. Make a written plan that can be set in action in the case of a fire. Consider holding fire drills with your horses and staff, making sure that you are able to efficiently remove the horses from the facility in a timely manner. Have a plan in place for where you will contain the horses because many times they will return to the barn in their panic. It is important to always leave halters and lead ropes on your horses’ doors so that you will have easy access to them in the event of an emergency.

Invite In the Experts

Get in touch with your local fire department and have them come tour your facility. They may be able to point out fire hazards that you have not noticed. Additionally, it is a wonderful time to introduce them to the floor plan of the barn, which would help to make them more effective in the event of an emergency. Talk with the fire department to see about their comfort level with horses—many departments welcome the opportunity for hands-on training with horses for their staff. Ask if they would be interested in settling up a handling clinic with your horses (this also gives the horses an opportunity to see firefighters in their gear).

In Case of Emergency

It can be difficult to think about a barn fire, but it is important that you know what to do in case this happens to you. In the instance of a barn fire, quick action is imperative; barn fires can become fatal for horses in minutes. By acting rapidly with your fire plan, you can hopefully remove your horses and other animals from the barn before the structure is compromised.

If your barn begins to burn, call 911 immediately to alert the authorities of the blaze. You will need the fire department to extinguish the flames and help you maintain the integrity of the structure.

Then, if possible, work on removing your horses from the barn. Enlist the help of everyone on the property. Do not enter the barn if it is engulfed in flames and actively burning– it is important that you keep your safety at the forefront of your mind. Once you have confirmed that it is safe to enter the barn, put halters and lead ropes on the horses and lead them away from the barn. Horses may be extremely nervous and will most likely want to stay in an area where they feel safe, most likely their stall.

Calmy try to remove the horse from the stall, being mindful of your safety the entire time. This may take longer than you expect, the Ontario Farm Animal Council says, “It normally takes an experienced person approximately one minute to halter and lead that horse 100 feet, if they cooperate.” Some horses benefit from being blindfolded if they are especially afraid, but this should be used as a last resort because some horses cannot tolerate being blindfolded at all.  If the barn begins to actively burn, leave the building immediately, unfortunately, you will need to leave the remaining animals inside.

Work your way through the barn, beginning with the most accessible horses, removing as many animals as you can. After they have exited the building, make sure that you bring them to a sturdy enclosure, such as a three-board paddock. There have been many accounts of horses running back into a burning building in distress, so it is important that the gate is securely fastened and that the horses will not try to run through the fencing in a panic. Ideally, the pasture should be close enough to the barn that you can quickly return to the barn for the rest of the horses, while also being far enough away from the barn that the fire will not affect the horses.

Once the emergency personnel have arrived, make sure to follow their instructions precisely. They will help to mitigate the fire, while also helping remove the remaining animals if it is safe to do so. 

After the fire is under control, the next step is to make a phone call to your veterinarian. Smoke inhalation can have a myriad of adverse effects on your horse, while the stress and shock of the event can cause them to colic. Additionally, in their panic, horses could have cut themselves in such a way that requires stitches or other medical attention. Your veterinarian will give your horses thorough exams and provide any essential medical care.

While you are waiting for the vet’s arrival, remove any blankets or nylon halters, because these can retain heat. If your horse is burned, carefully hose the area (just as you would cool an area that a human burned). After the burning has been cooled, it is important to keep your horse warm, because the trauma to the skin can cause your horse’s natural body temperature to become compromised. To learn more about caring for your horse after a fire, we recommend reading the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) article, When My Horse is in a Fire.

Remember to take care of yourself as well! A visit to your doctor is in order to ensure that you have not inhaled toxic chemicals or that the stress of the event is not causing adverse medical conditions. Be gentle with yourself moving forward, making sure that you give yourself time to heal, both mentally and physically, from the trauma of the fire.

Taking the proper precautions is imperative when safeguarding your barn against fire risk. Barn fires are devastating for everyone involved, however, it makes sense to think about them so that you can be prepared for the worst. By being thorough in your preparations, you can protect your horses from this catastrophic event while having a plan in place in the event of an emergency.

Barn Fire Prevention Checklist

  • No smoking in or around the barn – ever!
  • Visually inspect the electrical wiring on a regular basis.
  • Check electrical plugs and products that plugin frequently.
  • Install light fixture covers.
  • Unplug all items not in use when not in the barn.
  • Do not use unsupervised space heaters.
  • Check hay temperature frequently, and consider storing in a separate location.
  • Take a look at your bedding options for the least flammable.
  • Keep the barn aisle clean and free of clutter.
  • Remove cobwebs frequently.
  • Place fire extinguishers every 50-75’ and where people tend to congregate.
  • Move flammable materials out of the barn.
  • Store vehicles away from the barn.
  • If the laundry is done in the barn, keep the dryer vent lint-free.
  • Keep vegetation around the barn well trimmed.
  • Install farm-rated smoke detectors.
  • Install lightning rods.
  • Install fire suppression systems.
  • Keep halters and lead ropes on the stall doors at all times.
  • Make a fire evacuation plan.
  • Invite your fire department to the facility to look for additional fire hazards.

Barn Fire Guidelines

In case of a barn fire, follow these steps:

  1. Call 911.
  2. Make sure that it is safe to enter the barn.
  3. Methodically remove the horses from the barn, using a halter and lead rope (blindfold only if needed).
  4. Place the horses in a safe area outside the barn.
  5. Call the veterinarian immediately after the horses are safe.

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