There
is a well-known adage in the horse world that states, in one manner or another,
“if there is the remotest chance that something innocuous could become a hazard,
you can guarantee that your horse will show you what it is.”
We all know what that means, usually from first-hand
experience. If there’s one teeny, itty-bitty piece of wire in the pasture, some equine
will get cut, scratched, punctured, or tangled up in it. That means we have to examine
every item in our barn (and on our property) to determine if it could, in fact, become
a hazard. We must walk through our barn, studying those everyday innocuous objects
with an eye to potential dangers. We have to ask ourself, “What if . . .?”
Feature Article: BARN FIRES: SAD BUT PREVENTABLE
by Laurie Loveman
(First Appeared in APPALOOSA WORLD, November, 1984)
The following are expanded articles on many of the topics mentioned in "Barn Fires: Sad But Preventable" above. Most of the articles are written by me, except where I have found particularly useful articles I've chosen to include. Those articles are attributed and always published or linked to with permission. If you wish to ask a question or use an article in your publication, please contact me by way of the contact form. New articles will be added periodically. Please join my mailing list to receive updates.
My Articles:
- First, A Little History
- The Danger Of Smoke
- Electrical Considerations
- Case Study: Whispering Pines Riding Club Inspection
- Additional Contributor Article: Up In Flames
- Articles About Sprinkler Systems
- Fire Suppression - Before The Fire Department Arrives
- A Dialogue About Sprinkler Systems
- Additional Contributor Article: A Sprinkler Story
- Construction Plans And Materials For New Barns Updated 12/21/07
- Lightning Protection
- Hazardous Materials
- Fire Prevention Inside Your Barn
- Fire Prevention Outside Your Barn
- Additional Article: Fire Safety: Making Every Moment Count
- Safe Hay Storage
- Additional Contributor Article: Hay Barn Fires by Mike Weider (PDF)
- Security Considerations
- Detection and Alerting Devices
- Wildland Fires — Planning, Planning, Planning
- October 23, 2007 - California Wildland Fires
- Additional Contributor Article: Protecting Buildings from Wildfires
- Evacuating Your Barn in a Fire
- Additional Contributor Article: Helping Hand
- Additional Contributor Article: Developing an Equine Barn Escape Plan
- Additional Contributor Article: Reigning Cats & Dogs
- Additional Contributor Article: Good livestock evacuation plans are no accident
- Additional Contributor Article: Evacuation Tips for Wildland Fires
- Additional Contributor Article: Fire Plans and Drills
- Additional Contributor Article: Why Do They Do That?
- Loveman Barn Sketch: Sample sketch of horse locations in barn (PDF)
- In The Aftermath Of A Fire
- Additional Contributor Article: Grieving the Loss of a Horse
- Electrical Appliances
Contributor Articles:
Lessons
Learned from a Barn Fire
A fire creates an immediate need for action--not only for fighting the fire or evacuating
animals, but for all the economic factors. Phone calls have to be made to feed dealers,
insurance agents, the bank for arranging credit, and sources for helping employees
and other involved people to work through their loss of animal(s) or loss-of-job
fears. "Lessons
Learned From a Barn Fire" by John Dietz was published in National Hog
Farmer in the May 15, 2004 issue and is pertinent to all animal facilities. I urge
you to read how Manager Lorne Tannas handled the problems created by the fire that
destroyed part of the Tobacco Creek Farm in 2003.
David Yates on Heating: I wrote David regarding the recent, overwhelming number of barn fire reports coming in and got an important response everyone should read.
An additional note about lightning protection.
. .
If you have outbuildings not housing animals, they need lightning
protection also, especially if they are close to your barn or house. If
lightning should strike one of those outbuildings, the resulting embers
and flames could endanger your home and animals. Take a look at the article,
“Fire
destroys antique-filled historic barn” written by Emily Quirk. Even
though no animals were involved in this fire, you can get an idea of the
damage lightning can do. (Added 4/17/06)
TIPS FROM
A FIRE FIGHTER
Contributed by Jim Clark-Dawe
Attorney at Law and Volunteer Fire Fighter
Author of Equine Liability: What Every Horse Owner Needs to Know
Our
Barn Fire July 1997
by Lorri Elkington, Dry Creek Ranch
YATES ON PLUMBING
Dave Yates owns F.W. Behler, a contracting
company in York, Pennsylvania. He is a contributor to Contractormag.com,
and with his great sense of humor showing through (yes, he's had some experience
with horses and other livestock), gives us some information
about heat tapes.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: New Electric Heat Tapes Help
Prevent Fires:
Safety Alert
Hay Barn Fires by Mike Weider (PDF)
If you would like to become a contributor, please contact me via the contact form.