FIRE PREVENTION OUTSIDE YOUR BARN
As important as fire prevention is inside your barn. fire prevention cannot be neglected outside the barn. Start by destroying weeds growing close to the barn, and if your pastures front on a road, leave a barren strip 15 to 25 feet wide to act as a firebreak to lessen the danger of brush fires. A barren strip is, however, the ideal. With high land prices and smaller pastures and paddocks, many property owners need every square inch of grass. Also, there may be soil erosion problems on slopes that preclude leaving the area bare. Keeping the grass closely mowed along the road right-of-way, though, is a good idea. You may be concerned that carelessly tossed still burning cigarettes may be fire-starters, and in some instances they are, but research has determined that east of the Mississippi River, it's not the cigarettes that start the fires, it's the matches used to light them.
At least 30 feet of clear area should be provided around the barn so firefighters can work. Wildland firefighters refer to the cleared area around a structure as "defensible space," which means the amount of space around a building needed not only for firefighters to work, but enough space to prevent fire from jumping from the building to the surrounding vegetation and vice-versa. In a wildland fire it can mean the difference between losing your barn or having enough distance to be spared. In wildfire areas, at least 50 feet around buildings is recommended as a firebreak.
Good access to your barn is essential. Fire apparatus can weigh 40,000 pounds or more, although in most situations the Engine will stage at the road and lay hoselines to the fire. If, however, you need an access road on your property, the roadway should be at least 14 feet wide, and at least 14 feet of clearance is needed above the roadway so the fire apparatus can get by. That may mean cutting back overhanging tree limbs, picturesque as they may be. If you need a heavy load-bearing roadway but can't give up pasture space, consider installing a porous paving system where grass can grow above a plastic grid system. One United States company is Invisible Structures, Inc. and there are a number of companies in the United Kingdom. A search of "grass paving systems" will provide you with websites.
Whether or not your barn is close to a road or not easily seen from the road, request that your fire department make a plan (called a pre-fire plan or preplan) of your property. The request has to come from you because unlike commercial establishments, which may require annual fire safety inspections, fire department personnel cannot inspect your home or barns unless you invite them onto your property and request a fire inspection. At this time you can provide a map of your property that includes where utililty lines, underground gas lines, and alternate water supplies are located. Also provide a sketch of your barn's layout and the nearby paddocks and pastures.
Here’s
an example of a preplan, using the farm belonging to Laura Darvey, one of
the characters in my Firehouse Family series of novels. This fictional
preplan was prepared on a modern form, but the information dates from the
1930s, which is the setting for MEMORIES, THE
QUARRY, and THE FARM FIRES. While
I was writing these novels I used this form and its information to keep track
of “what was what” on Laura’s farm. (Click image to view full
size PDF version.)
Although this preplan of Laura’s farm is less complicated than today’s preplans tend to be, had Fire Chief Jake McCann needed it, this information might have made a big difference in saving the lives of Laura’s horses. Using modern information collection systems, fire department members will inspect your property to acquaint themselves with factors that will be advantageous or might be detrimental in case of fire. They will note the location of the nearest hydrant if there is one, and if not, will be prepared to make other arrangements for a water supply, which is a major factor in how much of a structure, if anything, can be saved. Neither you nor the fire department want any surprises in the event of an emergency—an up-to-date preplan helps everyone.
One last "outside the barn" safety measure: post a sign stating how many horses and/or other animals are in stalls or pens, and don't forget to include your "free-ranging" barn dog(s) and cat(s).
Additional Article: I've recently had an article published in Equestrian Magazine, the official magazine of the United States Equestrian Federation, about making it easier for the fire department not only to find your property, but how you can assist in making plans for fighting a fire on your property. The title is "Fire Safety: Making Every Moment Count."