7 Barn Fire Safety Tips

Barn fires can be devastating, but there are many ways that you can help to prevent them. Check out these seven barn safety tips and make sure that you’re following them in your barn.

Store Hay Separately

Hay is highly flammable, and if hay is moldy, it can heat up so much that it can actually catch fire. One of the best ways to prevent a barn fire is to store your hay in a building which is separated from your barn by at least a few hundred feet. If your hay ever does catch fire, the fire is unlikely to spread to the barn.

Remove Cobwebs

Barns quickly fill up with cobwebs, which are flammable and can create fire hazards. Remove cobwebs from your barn every week.

Check Your Electrical Wiring

Faulty electrical wiring is a prime cause for barn fires. Have an electrician in to examine your wiring and upgrade it if necessary.

Avoid Using Heaters

Never use heaters in your barn, especially oil heaters. Heaters can malfunction and cause fires. If you must use heaters, then only run them while someone is present in the barn. Make sure heaters are turned off and unplugged when you leave for the night.

Use Fans Built for Barns

If you use stall fans during the summer, make sure that the fans are made for barn use. Household fans feature motors which aren’t fully enclosed. If the motors overheat and burn out, pieces of the motor can fall into the bedding or hay below, causing a fire.

Install and Check Fire Extinguishers

Make sure that you have plenty of fire extinguishers in your barn. There should be fire extinguishers at every entrance, as well as in between. Make sure that fire extinguishers are easily visible and accessible. Check them regularly – fire extinguishers must have adequate pressure in order to perform during an emergency.

Hard Wire an Alarm System

In a fire, every second counts. Have a quality fire alarm system installed in your barn. It is best if this system can be wired so that it automatically triggers at your local fire station, sending help immediately. This faster response can save horse lives during a barn fire.

Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with a barn fire. These tips can help to reduce the chances of one ever occurring in your barn.