What’s wooden, full of flammable materials, and usually not monitored 24/7? A barn. And when said barn is home to precious animals and equipment, there should be a way to keep it from being such a fire hazard. This is where equine monitoring makes a big difference in preventing barn fire.

Barn Fire Prevention and Precautions

All it takes is one spark for the piles of hay, wood chips, and wooden stalls to catch fire. All it takes is seconds for the fire to spread through the dry structure. So why has it taken so long to think of fire prevention practices outside of your own home? Especially when a barn could house horses, other livestock, and expensive farming equipment.

There are many simple things you can do around the barn to make it less of a liability:

• No smoking. Make this clear for anyone who comes on the property.
• Clean up. Sweep up dust, debris, cobwebs, and anything else that could add fuel to the flames. Keep hay and straw out of walkways. Keep the landscaping around the barn trim and clean as well. If possible, keep extra bales of hay and straw in a separate area altogether.
• Storing electrics. If possible, park tractors, mowers, and other gas-powered vehicles and equipment outside of the barn.
• Using electrics. Only use outdoor-safe cords, and keep it out of any animal’s reach and off the floor where they’d be a tripping hazard. Don’t string together multiple extension cords or overload any outlet. Any electrical work should be done by a professional.
• Be prepared. Make a clear evacuation plan. Keep a halter and lead by every occupied stall to be ready to help your horses evacuate quickly and safely. Turning them loose may create more chaos and even runs the risk of them returning to the burning barn. Properly maintain doors and latches to ensure they open easily. Clearly mark the entrance to your property so emergency responders can find it easily.

Fire Prevention Equipment

Just as there are multiple ways of preventing fires in homes and offices, the same practices work in barn settings as well. Here are a few options:

• Smoke detectors. Test them regularly and make sure you can hear it from inside your house. Better yet, connect it to a smart home device to be alerted even when you’re not home. Better still, connect it to a central station monitoring service to have local authorities contacted right away.
• Fire extinguishers. They should be regularly inspected, readily available at every entrance, and easily accessed.
• Sprinkler system. Not only can it help put out the fire immediately, but it can also help prevent toxic gas and smoke from spreading.
• Equine monitoring system. Similar to a security system for your home, this monitoring system alerts you to what’s happening in the barn and allows you to contact authorities when necessary. This can also be connected to a third-party monitoring service.

Invite security professionals to inspect your barn for other possible safety hazards and the best way to prevent a future disaster. Contact Security Five for more information on setting up the right monitoring system to keep all people, animals, and structures on your property safe.

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