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Barn fires spread quickly and are extremely hot. |
“The morning of the fire can easily be described as the worst day of my life. Everything that meant so much was taken away with no warning,” says Wisconsin resident Vickey Hollingsworth.
The memories are as raw today as they were in 2004, when she and her mother lost three horses in a barn fire where they were boarding their horses.
“The feelings are best described as suffocating helplessness. To be only feet away but unable to reach out and save those trapped inside, to watch in shock as the structure collapses on the animals you love so much, there just aren’t words.”
Fire is an ever-present concern on small, rural farms. Because of the distance from help, any structure that ignites could be engulfed in flames before emergency workers arrive.
The National Fire Protection Association, the international nonprofit authority on fire, electrical and building safety, has compiled information from its surveys and studies that shows:
- Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home-structure fires and home-fire injuries.
- Smoking is the leading cause of civilian home-fire deaths.
- Heating equipment ranks second in home-fire deaths overall.
- Heating equipment is the leading cause of fires in barns.
- Barn-structure fires are most frequent in late winter and early spring.
- Barn fires are not small: Half of all barn-structure fires involve the entire building.
Several years ago, Laurie Loveman, author, horse owner and member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Safety in Animal Housing Facilities, began tracking media-reported animal deaths caused by fires in a chart posted on her website.
“I am upset every time I have to add more information to it,” says Loveman. “My original intent was to see what factors were involved—to find patterns. What I found through keeping this chart was that, in almost every instance, animals were dying in preventable fires, and the cost of prevention was very low when compared to economic disruptions. But, economics aside, the emotional toll suffered, not just by owners, but by the firefighters on scene who are subjected to the screams of the dying and the smell of death, can stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
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While charming, many older farmhouses harbor fire hazards, such as old, faulty wiring, that could be fixed by a licensed contractor. |
Farm Fire Prevention
Fire safety starts with fire prevention. Whether it’s a wildfire or a structure fire, preventing it or limiting its damage takes work and planning. Be prepared with a few simple updates and provisions.
Building and Remodeling
Farmhouses: Old farmhouses can hold particular charm as well as unique fire hazards. Many pre-1940s farmhouses with two or more levels used balloon-frame construction. Instead of being built in post-and-frame style, they were built using studs that ran two or more stories from foundation to eave. The spaces remaining between the studs provide a path for fire to spread. Check with an experienced, licensed contractor: Adding fire stops might be an option for correcting the problem.
Old wiring and fuse boxes designed for simple lighting needs won’t handle today’s electronic cravings. Clothes dryers, dishwashers, water heaters and electronic gadgets in old farmhouses need a system built to handle their modern needs. Adding new wire will only add to the load of the old wires and possibly start a fire in the wall. Putting in a larger amp fuse will not solve the problem and will eliminate the only safety factor, letting a larger flow of current into a system that can’t handle it. Have your system upgraded properly by a trained technician.
If you build new or as you remodel, add fireproofing to construction materials or consider construction materials that are fire-resistant. Farmhouses built of concrete, for example, such as those using Insulated Concrete Forms, may reduce the risks. Concrete does not burn, soften or bend. Consider Class A fire-retardant roofing materials and exterior coverings.
Barn and outbuildings: If you remodel an old barn or outbuilding, updating the electrical system is essential. Have a licensed electrical contractor install plenty of outlets to avoid the use of extension cords in the barn—it doesn’t take long for them to fray, crack or lose the ground prong.
Loveman says misuse of electricity is a major factor in most barn fires. She says the main culprits are electrical malfunctions and the use of nonagricultural-rated box fans, portable heaters and heat lamps.
Make the shutoff switch easily accessible with the ability to cut power to the barn separate from water pumps or other buildings. Loveman suggests enclosing all wiring in metal conduit to protect it from corrosion, animals and other damage. The cut ends of conduit need to be filed smooth so they don’t wear through the wire insulation.
Consider incorporating other fire-prevention methods:
- fire stops
- fire-retardant coatings
- interior wall and ceiling finish materials
- sprinkler systems
- smoke alarms and smoke-suppression systems
- fire alarms
Wood structures are not the only ones susceptible to burning. According to the University of Missouri Extension’s “Improving Fire Resistance of Farm Buildings," there’s a common misconception that metal buildings are “fireproof.” A fire would most likely start with a stored product in these buildings, but the unprotected metal-frame building will fail more quickly than a wooden structure. According to the UM Extension, “As soon as metal structural members get hot, their strength decreases rapidly. The result can be complete structural collapse long before actual flames spread through the building.”
If you’re considering building a new barn, check out “NFPA 150: Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities." The site requires a simple first-time signup for access to the 2009 edition. Its barn-construction advice—from door height and width to using only commercial electrical appliances and not using the barn aisles for permanent storage—is worth reviewing.
Landscaping
Whatever your rural structure, plan your landscaping carefully. Poor positioning and maintenance can help a fire or wildfire spread.
For each structure, start at the building and work your way out, says Michele Steinberg, Firewise Communities program manager for the NFPA. She suggests:
- Ensure roofs, decks, porches and fences are clear of needles, dead leaves and other debris that could ignite from embers or firebrands in a wildfire.
- Make a fuel-free area within 3 to 5 feet of the perimeter of your home and outbuildings. Consider bare earth, river rock or gravel as alternatives to shrubs or grass.
- Keep grass trimmed low within 30 feet of the structures, and keep it well-watered, if possible, during fire season.
- Remove dead or dying trees, shrubs and other plants within 30 to 50 feet of the structure. Thin trees within this area so that crowns are at least 30 feet apart.
- When putting in new landscaping, choose “fire-wise” plants. While all plants can burn, fire-resistant species have moist and supple leaves, water-like sap, and little dead wood; they tend not to accumulate dry material.
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