Barn Safety: Prevent FiresBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · March 21, 2011
Because so many things associated with horses are flammable, there's no such thing as a fireproof barn. Even a concrete-block stable is very likely to contain bedding, grain, tack, hay, cobwebs, blankets, wooden rafters, and a good supply of airborne particles that could easily flash into a dangerous fire if a small blaze was somehow started.
Fire extinguishers should be installed in the tack room, feed room, and near each door to the outside. All permanent electrical wiring should be in conduit, and extension cords should be heavy-duty and well insulated. Be certain horses can't reach any cords from within their stalls or while they are standing in cross-ties in the aisle. To keep cords from being damaged, unplug and store them any time they are not in active use.
Keep your barn clean and free of combustible material like piles of wind-blown hay, wisps of bedding, and empty feed bags. Post no-smoking signs and enforce this rule. Trim brush and tall grass away from the outside of the barn. Store paint, gasoline, and other flammable substances in a separate building.
Be alert to the danger of bringing a vehicle into the barn to unload hay or other materials. The hot muffler on a mower, four-wheeler or other engine could come in contact with hay bales, starting a fire after the barn is closed up and everyone has left. Keeping aisles clear will help to prevent this, and will also leave an uncluttered passage open if horses need to be led away from the barn.
Hay is often stored in unused stalls or in a loft. Check hay frequently, especially recent cuttings, to be sure the hay is not heating up from moisture inside the bales. Break open a few bales and check the interior. If you feel heat, quickly but carefully move the hay outside and away from the barn.
Fire prevention, like other safety measures connected with equine operations, is not a one-time thing, but an ongoing process.
