Most people know that when it comes to dreams, one small misstep and in an instant those dreams can go up in smoke; unfortunately when it comes to horse dreams that saying can be all too literal. Hardly a week goes by when another picture of fire ravaging California isn’t making the evening news. Listed below are seven practical fire safety and prevention tips to help prevent your barn from going up in smoke.

1. Plan & Practice
Make an emergency plan – both for evacuating the barn in case of internal fire and for evaluating the facility in case of wildfire or other natural disasters. Discuss the plan with your boarders, family members and/or workers, post the plan and practice it. A smoldering fire can erupt into an inferno in minutes. Everyone must know how and when to evacuate the barn, how the animals will be removed and who does what. Make sure everyone knows where phones are located. All buildings must have multiple unblocked exits that people and animals can get out of quickly from a fire.

2. Zero Tolerance On Smoking
Smoking is one of the five top causes of fires in the United States. Implement a no smoking policy in the barn or paddock areas and enforce it! If you do allow smoking on your property set up designated smoking areas with proper disposal receptacles at least 25 feet away from barns, paddocks or storage containers with combustible products (like hay and feed).

3. Store Hay and Bedding Separately
Ideally, permit only a one-day supply of feed in barns; additional quantities of hay, straw and shavings should be stored in separate buildings or in non-combustible vented containers a safe distance away from the barns. Separating hay from your valued animals may not prevent a fire, but it will minimize risk to the animals. Hay and bedding is fuel to feed a growing fire. Storing it separately can buy you a little extra time to move your horses to safety if a fire breaks out. Additionally make sure that the areas around barns and other outbuildings are kept clear of brush, shrubs, woodpiles, and other materials that could feed a fire.

4. Use Electricity Sensibly
All electrical materials and equipment should have an approval label of a recognized certification agency. These include: CSA, cUL, ULC, ETL, cMET, Entela, O-TL, Warnock Hersey, TUV Rheinland. In hot weather all fans should have a certification agency label and be approved for use in hazardous areas where dust, shavings, straw and hay are present. Extension cords should only be used temporarily and removed after use.

5. Install Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers
Working smoke detectors can alert you to fire in time for you to safely evacuate your barn. Install smoke detectors in every level and/or wing of your barn. Test detectors every month, following the manufacturer’s directions, and replace batteries once a year or whenever a detector chirps to signal low battery power. Never “borrow” a smoke detector’s battery for another use - a disabled detector can’t save you or your horse’s life.
Mount multi-purpose 2A-10BC rated portable fire extinguishers approved for use in all climates outside each exit door. Conduct annual training on the use of fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment.

6. Take a closer look at ALL Potential Ignition & Fuel Sources
Obviously, it is difficult to eliminate fuel sources entirely, as most horse barns are constructed with wood framing. However, hay and bedding aren’t the only fuel sources often stored in or near barns in large qualities. Take a close look around your barn and you’ll probably find more than you think. Remove all combustible and flammable liquids (paint, propane tanks for BBQ, etc.) from your barn; only keep small quantities for medicinal purposes (such as rubbing alcohol). Remove all trash to containers outside of barns daily. If necessary in barns, use garbage containers constructed of non-combustible material with self-closing lids. The key is to minimize the potential for fuel and ignition sources coming together.

7. Practice Good Barn Management Every Day
This may seem like a simple and possibly highly obvious tip, but in today’s hectic world we often let practicing good barn management slip when rushed or under time/money constraints. Check your facility regularly, make sure it is up to all local fire codes, that all wiring and fire suppression equipment is in good condition and habitually conduct inspections to ensure no potential hazards are being overlooked. Keep your barn clean and uncluttered, keep aisles free of objects that could block you or your horse’s escape route, clearly label all exits, remove cob webs and rake up hay and debris from aisles regularly.
Remember - horses may want to remain in their stall because they think the stall is a safe and familiar place. Keeping your horse haltered or the halter close to their stall, practicing fire drills and knowing the location of the fire exits can better prepare you and your horses, should fire strike.

A fire in a stable or adjoining facility can be devastating, both economically and emotionally for horse owners. While the most reliable and cost-effective approach is always to prevent a fire from starting, nevertheless it only makes good horse sense to plan for the worst and to have solid procedures for fire response.