PrintCheck back every Wednesday through Feb. 24 for our continuing series on Farm Design, sponsored by VirginiaCountryProperties.com.
It’s hard to forget the terrifying barn fire scene in Black Beauty. While we no longer use kerosene lamps for light these days, fire is still a frightening and very real threat to the safety of your farm and horses. However, fires are also preventable if the right precautions are taken.
“One of the highest causes of barn fires is [electrical problems],” said Lorri Hayward of Hayward Designs. “The second highest is [a hot bale of hay], and the third is carelessness [like smoking in the barn]. You want to try to avoid those potential problem areas as much as you can.”
“The most important thing to have is common sense,” said Matthew Odishoo, who has served as a volunteer firefighter and deputy fire marshal in Berlin, Conn., for the past 26 years. “We joke that lack of common sense is job security for us. Call your local fire department and have them inspect your farm. They will point out some of the problems you have and explain how to make your barn fire safe.”
From The Beginning
Protecting your barn starts in the design process. Because one of the major causes of barn fires is a "hot" bale of hay, it’s important to keep the majority of your hay storage away from the main barn.
“We will not design a loft because it is a fire hazard,” said Lachlan Oldaker of GH2 Gralla Equestrian Architects. “The dust and everything else created by a loft is not good for the horses or the barn.”
“People don’t realize how much heat green or wet hay actually generates,” added Odishoo. “We’ve had some calls for smoldering and smoke from hay bales. Keep that stuff out of the barn until it’s dried out properly.”
Don't neglect appropriate storage when planning your facility.
Stick To Codes
One of the main themes in this series has been keeping everything up to code. This is doubly important for fire safety.
“When it comes to barn fires, 90 percent were started by electrical problems,” said Odishoo. “Barns need to meet minimal standards, even structurally. That’s the foundation to good fire safety.”
Odishoo’s Quick Fire Prevention Tips
