When flames reach the highly flammable hay, feed, and bedding in the presence of terrified animals, you have a crisis like no other.

Unfortunately, stable fires are not rare. Wet hay storage, overloaded or damaged electrical systems, careless smoking, improperly operated heaters, and improper storage of oily rags are just a few of the causes.

Prevention, however, is simple if you understand the threat.

For convenience or cost reduction, hay is stored with the horses, usually with no problems. However, many barn fires are caused by storing damp hay.

Too many barn owners do not realize that improperly cured and baled hay -- or even a leaky roof above good hay -- can cause a fire. The best way to prevent a hay fire is to put up dry hay and keep it dry. Better yet, keep hay in a separate barn or storage shed.

Other significant causes of accidental fires and their prevention include:

Early detection and quick response can save lives and property. Barns are airy and filled with combustible materials, so they burn easily and quickly. Response time is so important that many insurance companies consider a building more than five miles from a fire station essentially unprotected.

Smoke detectors are important because many fires smoke and smolder before bursting into flame. As a general rule, smoke and gases are given off long before the fire begins to heat up the interior air of the barn to the point where a heat detector is activated.

Once the fire has been detected, rapid response is essential. Detectors can be connected to the nearest fire-fighting organization for automatic alarm. This can involve automatic dialers or other kinds of message-sending devices.

What to do

Fire prevention checklist

■ Regularly inspect electrical wiring.

■ Install lightning protection devices.

■ Properly store fuels and combustible materials.

■ Post “no smoking” signs.

■ Have fire extinguishers readily available throughout the

■ If possible, store hay in a separate barn away from heat

■ Provide safety training and supervise employees,

■ Regularly maintain facilities, machinery, and equipment.

■ Remove trash from the barns and elsewhere on the farm.

■ Install fencing around the perimeter of the property,

■ Fence all hazardous areas, such as ponds and lagoons.

■ Store machinery in locked buildings, or if facilities are

■ Store chemicals in secure areas.

■ Post “no trespassing” signs to discourage unwanted visitors.

No other word in the English language can strike more fear than the cry, "Fire"! And the thought of a fire raging through a stable full of horses is doubly terrifying. Horses plunging and fighting for freedom from the searing flames as handlers and owners make valiant attempts to save the animals they have come to respect and love, are sight and sounds one never forgets.

Some horses in a barn fire may be saved - but others will die an agonizing death, as their stalls fill with smoke, and then the intense heat of the oncoming flames causes the bedding to flash into one huge fireball, engulfing all and everything it touches.

Stables' construction, their location, hay storage, tack area, and horses' comfort are always considered in the building plans for any barn. But what about fire prevention? Shouldn't the thought that goes into the building be expanded to include fire prevention? And for barns already built, what precautions should be taken to prevent fires? And what measures taken if fire does strike?

In the 1970's, Union Carbide Chemicals Company's Fire Protection Engineering Division conducted fire tests and studies on race track stables for the New York Racing Commission. Later the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association issued a joint report on a study of California race track stables. Then, the national Fire Protection Association published an "Occupancy Fire Record" (FR 63-2) describing the results of fires in race track barns and stables. These combined findings were interesting and, in some cases, startling, in facts and figures!

Of the fires investigated by the aforementioned agencies, 90 percent were located at race tracks. But fires are not limited to race track stables or barns. Race track fires were investigated because of insurance requirements before payments were made for property damage reimbursement - and because they received national newspaper coverage.

But what about the average stable or riding academy? They, too, suffer fires, which in some cases are more disastrous then race track fires. One fire in Oregon completely razed a riding academy housing 75 horses. All horses were burned to death - and the holocaust wasn't discovered until the next morning when the owner came to feed the horses and found the barn in ashes with dead and dying horses still in burned-out stalls!

Unlike race tracks, which have grooms living in quarters, not all stables and riding academies have on-site residents. People come and go as they like - feeding their horses, riding, and enjoying their mounts. So like the Oregon stable, a fire can rage out of control with no finding out until it's too late.

Most stables are long and narrow containing from 10 to 60 stalls, and have Dutch door arrangements with the lower half of the stall door closed, leaving the top half open for ventilation. Some have open rear doors leading from stalls to paddocks of various sized.

Tests in a 12x12 foot stall, using two bales of fresh straw, showed that in fast fires in one minute's time, temperatures reached 375 degrees F, 15 feet above the floor. The clean-burning fire raised air temperatures rapidly.

A similar test, using slow burning straw, did not develop noticeable quantities of smoke, and the temperature 15 feet above the floor reached only 150 degrees F, during the first one and one-half minutes. As the fire continued to burn, dense smoke developed, and in three minutes 30 seconds, the temperature reached 250 degrees F.

An animal will be able to survive a fire less than one foot in diameter and/or temperatures at the 15-foot level of less than 150 degrees F. However, if a fire starts in a horse's stall, the animal in that stall seldom has more than 30 seconds to be rescued, before suffering fatal burns of smoke inhalation. It has been proven that in one or two minutes, a burning bed of straw will generate more heat than a pool of burning gasoline! Horses in adjoining stalls have have up to five minutes to be rescued, depending upon stall construction and separation.

For some reason, stable owners don't consider putting in an automated sprinkler system. A sprinkler system suspended in each stall and down an alley way will save the barn and horses. Most stable owners look at the initial cost and shake their heads. What they fail to realize is that with a wet sprinkler system, their yearly insurance premiums can be cut as much as 50 percent. When you figure that out over five, ten or 15 years, you're talking about quite a chunk of money - thousands to be exact. The original cost of sprinklers can be spread over a three- or five-year period. Some stable owners try to build a stable as cheaply as they can. And about the only argument you can say to those people is, what do you figure the life of a horse is worth?

Building to protect against fire is an ideal solution, but for stables and barns already built, common sense rules will help to minimize the danger of barn fires. Let's face it - horses don't start fires, people do! And in the hot, dry summer climate of California, wild fires are a guaranteed annual event.

Every barn should be off-limits when it comes to smoking. "No Smoking" signs should be placed on entrance doors, plus a couple in the barn to help people who forget to remember. For those that must smoke, a smoking area should be established complete with sand buckets for cigarette butts. A cigarette ground out in the arena dirt may not be out. It can smolder for hours and days among shavings and straw before flaring up into a possible holocaust!

"Cleanliness next to Godliness" should apply to the barn. Aiselways should be kept clean of paper scraps, litter and spilled hay. Tack boxes should be placed against the wall, so aisles are clear for quick exit in case of an emergency.

Never use rubber- or plastic-covered wiring. Horses and mice can create havoc with it. Use metal or PVC conduits. If wiring is already installed, check it periodically for worn and hot spots.

Overloaded fuses are a menace.  Coffee pots, clippers, and electric heaters all running at the same time can blow fuses. Don't overload electrical outlets, and if extension cords are used, use the heavy-duty ones and check for rubbed and cracked areas.

Never store flammable liquids in closed tack boxes or tight spaced where they might get hot. Aerosol spray cans left in the sun can build up pressure and heat, and literally explode!

Fire extinguishers should be charge and checked to make sure they work, then hung in places that everyone knows about for emergency use. It does no good to have a fire extinguisher, if no one knows where it is or how to use it.

Ideally, there should be a telephone on the property, with emergency numbers clearly posted on it.

Leading a horse out of a burning barn is not easy. A saddle blanket, shirt, sweater, etc. should be placed over the horse's eyes. The animal can then be led to safety, with a belt or piece of rope. Smoke doesn't frighten horses; it's the sight and sound of flames that panics them. Once the horse is outside, if a corral, pasture or arena is far enough from the flames to be safe, turn the horse loose there. But beware; a loose horse will return to its stall regardless of the flames around it. In the mind of the horse, that stall is a haven of safety.

It's a good idea to state periodic fire drills, so people know what to do in case of fire. Or at least tell everyone what to do in case of fire. First, notify the fire department (directions to the barn can be typed on cards, inserted in a plastic holder, and tacked to the wall by the phone, so it's easier and faster to give directions to the fire department dispatcher). Secondly, start to remove as many horses as possible from the immediate danger area. Don't play hero by trying to rescue horses trapped in burning stalls. Sadly enough most of those will die from smoke inhalation, even if freed. Rescue only those horses you can get to safely.

Saving horses is case of a fire depends upon quick action. But preventing fires is still the best method - and prevention is everybody's responsibility!

Why Horse Owners Need to Be Prepared

Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it takes extra consideration for horses because of their size and their transportation needs. If you think disasters happen only if you live in a flood plain, near an earthquake fault line or in a coastal area, you may be tragically mistaken. Disasters can happen anywhere and can take many different forms, from barn fires to hazardous materials spills to propane line explosions, and train derailments—all of which may necessitate evacuation. It is imperative that you are prepared to move your horses to a safe area.

During an emergency, the time you have to evacuate your horses will be limited. With an effective emergency plan, you may have enough time to move your horses to safety. If you are unprepared or wait until the last minute to evacuate, you could be told by emergency management officials that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property, you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. If left behind, your horses could be unattended for days without care, food, or water. To help avoid this situation, we have prepared information and suggestions to help you plan for emergencies.

Barn Fires: The Leading Disaster for Horse Owners

Preventing barn fires and being prepared in the event of a fire can mean the difference between life and death for your horses. Knowledge of the danger of fires and how to deal with them are of the greatest importance and should be an ongoing concern to horse owners.

Fire Prevention Is Key

Be Prepared for a Barn Fire: It Can Save Your Horse's Life

New Products Help Prevent Barn Fires

Mattituck, NY (January 29, 2002)-A barn fire is every horse owner's worst nightmare . . . and a nightmare that comes true all too often. Most barn fires have tragic consequences - in the destruction of buildings, equipment, records and irreplaceable items. But they are most devastating when they involve the loss of precious human and animal lives.

We've all seen the tragic headlines. We've all heard the horror stories of horses being burned in their stalls. And we all understand that when flames rage through a barn in the presence of panicked horses, you have a crisis of huge proportions. But did you know that more horses die in barn fires than all other disasters combined?

Anyone who has ever experienced a horse barn fire will tell you that PREVENTION IS PARAMOUNT. Now, thanks to Equine Scientific Products, the horse industry has an affordable and highly effective way to help prevent the devastation of barn fires. Equine Scientific is the exclusive distributor of a line of UL tested and classified fire retardant and flame-proofing solutions called the Adkins' Security ZONE™. These state-of-the-art products are the result of 20 years of intensive development and on-the-job experience in the fire prevention industry. They have been used successfully for years in nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, office buildings, etc. For the first time ever, these potentially life-saving products are now available to the equine industry.

The cornerstone of the Adkins' Security ZONE line of products is designed for application on wooden surfaces - like the boards you traditionally find in a stall. Wood properly treated with Security ZONE will not support flame. This unique product is highly effective, long lasting, easy to apply, colorless, odorless, non-staining, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and safe for humans and animals. Additional fire retardant products in the Security ZONE line will be introduced in the near future. Fire safety experts tell us that once a fire starts in a horse's stall, there is only a window of about 30 seconds to rescue it before the animal suffers fatal burns or smoke inhalation. Horses in adjoining stalls have five to eight minutes to be rescued, depending on stall construction and proximity to the fire.

These same experts say that 80-85% of horse barn fires are caused by electrical malfunctions or by human error and carelessness (smoking, forgetting a water-bucket heater, overloading electrical connections, etc.). This sobering statistic points to the fact that the majority of all barn fires are the result of a lack of understanding of what Equine Scientific calls the four "Ps" - Prevent, Prepare, Plan and Practice.

In an effort to help educate horse people on the importance of fire prevention and the significance of the four "Ps," Equine Scientific is in the process of developing an instructional pamphlet on the subject. They are collaborating on the contents with equine industry leaders as well as fire safety and fire fighting professionals. The pamphlet will be available free-of-charge beginning in August 2002. Watch for further details.

Meanwhile, it goes without saying that horse owners need to prepare for the eventuality of a fire by eliminating all sources of fire risk in and around the barn. They also need to have an emergency plan of action - including an evacuation plan - and to practice the plan ahead of time. But even more importantly, they need to take the preventative step of making their horses' environments as fire retardant and flame proof as possible.

Equine Scientific believes strongly that horse people need to "Be Proactive, Not Reactive" when it comes to the proper care of their horses. This adage is particularly appropriate for the Security ZONE line of products, because taking a proactive role in fire prevention is every horse owner's responsibility.

Adkins' Security ZONE is available nationwide in tack and farm stores. To place an order, or for further information about all of the innovative and life-enhancing products offered by Equine Scientific, contact them toll-free at 877-362-2285.

DISASTER PLANNING FOR HORSES

Why Horse Owners Need to be Prepared

Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it takes extra consideration for horses because of their

size and the requirements for transporting them. If you think that disasters can’t happen in Vermont, you may

be tragically mistaken. Disasters such as barn fires, hazardous materials spills, propane line explosions, ice

storms, floods and train derailments can happen anywhere. All of these emergencies may necessitate

evacuation, so it is imperative that you are prepared to move your horses to a safe area.

During an emergency, the time you have to evacuate your horses will be limited. With an effective emergency

plan, you may have enough time to move your horses to safety. If you are unprepared or wait until the last

minute to evacuate, you could be told by emergency management officials that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property,

you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. If left behind, either loose in a field or in a barn, your horses could be

unattended for days without care, food, or water. To help you minimize the risk of this happening, we have prepared information and suggestions

to help you plan for emergencies.

B a r n F i r e s : T h e L e a d i n g D i s a s t e r f o r H o r s e O w n e r s

Preventing barn fires and being prepared in the event of a fire can mean the difference between life and death for your horses and also for those

people trying to help. Knowledge of the danger of fires and how to deal with them are of the greatest importance and should be an ongoing

concern to horse owners.

F i r e P r e v e n t i o n I s K e y

· Prohibit smoking in or around the barn. A discarded cigarette can ignite dry bedding or hay in seconds.

· Avoid parking tractors and vehicles in or near the barn. Engine heat and backfires can spark a flame.

· Also store other machinery and flammable materials outside of the barn.

· Inspect electrical systems regularly and immediately correct any problems. Rodents can chew on electrical wiring and cause damage that

quickly becomes a fire hazard.

· Keep appliances to a minimum in the barn. Use stall fans, space heaters, and radios only when someone is in the barn.

· Be sure hay is dry before storing it. Hay that is too moist may spontaneously combust. Store hay outside of the barn in a dry, covered

area when possible.

B e P r e p a r e d f o r a B a r n F i r e -- I t C a n S a v e Y o u r H o r s e ' s L i f e

· Keep aisles, stall doors, and barn doors free of debris and equipment.

· Mount fire extinguishers around the stable, especially at all entrances.

· Have a planned evacuation route for every stall in the barn.

· Familiarize employees and horse handlers with your evacuation plans.

· Post emergency telephone numbers at each telephone and at each entrance. Emergency telephone numbers should include those of the

barn manager, veterinarian, emergency response, and other qualified horse handlers.

· Also keep your barn's street address clearly posted to relay to the 911 operator or your community's emergency services.

· Be sure your address and the entrance to your property are clearly visible from the main road.

· Consider installing smoke alarms and heat detectors throughout the barn. New heat sensors can detect rapidly changing temperatures in

your barn. The heat sensors should be hooked up to sirens that will quickly alert you and your neighbors to a possible barn fire.

· Host an open house for emergency services personnel in your area to familiarize them with the layout of your property. Provide them

with tips on horse handling or present a mini seminar with hands-on training for horse handling.

2

· Familiarize your horses with emergency procedures and common activities they would encounter during a disaster. Try to desensitize

them to flashlights and flashing lights.

I n t h e E v e n t o f a B a r n F i r e

· Immediately call 911 or your local emergency services. Keep that number clearly posted.

· Do not enter the barn if it is already engulfed in flames.

· If it is safe for you to enter the barn, evacuate horses one at a time starting with the most accessible horses. Be sure to put a halter and

lead rope on each horse when you open the stall door. Be aware that horses tend to run back into burning barns out of fear and

confusion.

· Blindfold horses only if absolutely necessary. Many horses will balk at a blindfold, making evacuation more difficult and time consuming.

· Move your horses to paddocks close enough to reach quickly but far enough from the barn that the horses will not be affected by the fire

and smoke. Never let horses loose in an area where they are able to return to the barn.

· After the fire, be sure to have all your horses checked by a veterinarian. Smoke inhalation can cause serious lung damage and

respiratory complications. Horses are prone to stress and may colic after a fire.

H o r s e E v a c u a t i o n T i p s

· Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you do not have your own trailer or do not have

enough trailer space for all of your horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.

· Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. Make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable

your horses if needed. Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management

authorities for information about shelters in your area.

· Inform friends and neighbors of your evacuation plans. Post detailed instructions in several places-including the barn office or tack room,

the horse trailer, and barn entrances-to ensure they are accessible to emergency workers in case you are not able to evacuate your

horses yourself.

· Place your horses' Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information-such as medical history, allergies,

and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)-in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other

important papers in a safe place that can be quickly reached.

· Keep halters ready for your horses. Each halter should include the following information: the horse's name, your name, your telephone

number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached.

· Prepare a basic first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.

· Be sure to have on hand a supply of water, hay, feed, and medications for several days for each horse you are evacuating.

· It is very important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto

a trailer, practice the procedure so they become used to it.