How to Fireproof a Horse Barn

Losing a horse to sickness or an accident is distressing, but losing an entire barn of horses to a fire that could have been prevented is tragic. The average barn is full of fire hazards. Implementing good barn management practices and removing possible fire hazards can go a long way in preventing your barn from going up in smoke.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Good Barn Management and Practices

1. Create an emergency plan for evacuating your barn in case of an internal fire and an external fire, such as a wildfire. Speak with everyone in your barn about the plan--boarders, workers and family members. Make sure everyone is clear on what their jobs are, when to evacuate and where to take their horses. Post the plan someplace visible and practice it.
2. Have emergency numbers posted by all phones and in visible numbers. Along with emergency numbers, so that if anyone has to call in a fire emergency, they will not have to search for your address.
3. Make sure your address is posted clearly at the road so emergency responders can find your facility in the event of a structure fire, grass fire or wild fire.
4. Place several fire extinguisher in your barn. Know how to use them and check them frequently to make sure they're still in working order.
5. Keep halters and leadropes on each stall door. This will not prevent a fire but will help you remove horses more quickly should a fire get started.
6. Keep your barn clean and uncluttered. Remove cobwebs and rake up any hay and debris from aisles regularly. All aisles should be free of objects that could block escape routes, and exits should be clearly labeled, especially in large barns and facilities.
7. Implement and enforce a zero-tolerance, no-smoking policy in and around the barn. Smoking is one of the five top causes of fires in the United States and even tidy barns are full of highly combustible substances.
8. Use electricity and electrical equipment sensibly. Use only industrial-grade extension cords and put them away after use. Cage all electric light fixtures. Keep electric cords out of reach of horses, and check your cords and equipment frequently to insure it is functioning properly and in good repair.
9. Check your facility regularly, make sure it is up to all local fire codes and ensure that all wiring and fire suppression equipment is in good condition. Conduct routine inspections to ensure no potential hazards are being overlooked.
10. Contact your local fire department or fire marshal and ask for advice. Some fire departments may be willing to walk through your facility with you and give suggestions on how to improve safety.
11. Store hay, straw and shavings in a separate building away from the barn, keeping only a day's supply in the barn. Bedding and hay are fuel for a fire. While storing them away from a barn may not prevent a fire, it can minimize the risk to your horses. Check that your hay has been cured properly and is dried when stored; wet hay can heat up and spontaneously combust.

Around and About the Barn

12. Clear any brush, tall grass, trees and debris away from the outside of your barn to create a 50-foot firebreak around your facility. This is especially important in areas with a high wildfire risk.
13. Install working smoke detectors in every wing and level of your barn. Check the batteries regularly. A working smoke or heat detector can provide you with the valuable minutes needed to save your horses and your barn. Consider connecting the alarms to an external siren that is loud enough to be heard outside of the barn.
14. Add a sprinkler system. It's an expensive addition, but if you can afford one, it's well worth the money. Whether or not you have a sprinkler system, also keep a hose attached to an external water supply.
15. Install a grounded lightning rod system to protect your barn against lighting.
16. Invest in multipurpose, 2A-10BC rated, portable fire extinguishers that are approved for use in all climates. A small barn can have one fire extinguisher mounted in a central location, but larger facilities should have one every 40 feet or at each exit door. Conduct annual training on how to use fire extinguishers and other fire-suppression equipment.
17. Remove all combustible and flammable liquids such as paint or propane tanks for barbecues from your barn; keep only small quantities for medicinal purposes (such as rubbing alcohol). Remove all trash daily and place it in containers outside of barns. If it is necessary to keep trash in the barn, use garbage containers constructed of noncombustible material with self-closing lids.

Tips & Warnings

• A few recognized certification agencies for electrical equipment include: CSA, CUL, ULC, ETL, cMET, Entela, O-TL, Warnock Hersey and TUV Rheinland.