14/ APRIL 2019 THE RIDER Reduce the risk of barn fires on your farm


By Bruce Kelly, Farm and Food Care Ontario Barn fires are devastat-


ing. The results are often the tragic loss of livestock and equipment, with financial and emotional impacts that can be felt for years after- wards. In the wake of a series


of barn fires over past five years, Ontario’s agricultural industry came together to evaluate and recommend fire prevention practices. As a result, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ (OMAFRA) engi- neers, commodity organiza- tions,


county fire


professionals and insurance representatives developed a new farm management fact sheet, 10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Barn Fires. “Emergency events,


like barn fires, can have sig- nificant impacts on farmers and the agriculture sector. The Government of Canada is pleased to collaborate with partners in the sector to develop tools and ap- proaches that help prevent or lessen the impacts and risks of hazards before an emergency occurs,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, fed- eral Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “As a former volunteer


firefighter, I recognize how important it is for farmers to have up-to-date information to keep their farms operat- ing safely,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minis- ter of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Through the Canadian Agricultural Part- nership, we are very pleased to provide information to


our farmers to help them avoid a tragic fire on their farms and help protect their livestock.” Incorporating the re-


source recommendations into your farm’s daily oper- ations and maintenance plans can reduce your risk of fire on your farm. Here are some tips from the fact sheet to consider in your barn fire prevention plan.


Better housekeeping Equine and livestock


barns are dusty places, with combustible materials like bedding, dried manure, and animal dander that accumu- late quickly. Regular clean- ing can help reduce material buildup and the risk of fire. Keep debris and com- bustible materials away from electrical and heating


equipment and other possi- ble


ignition sources.


Sweeping, washing equip- ment and using tools like a leaf blower can help with housekeeping. Be sure to store obvi-


ous flammable materials, like fuel, dry bedding and hay in a separate area, away from livestock and always keep passageways clear. In- corporate cleaning and gen- eral housekeeping into everyday tasks to avoid ma- terial build up.


Hot works safety Equipment


break-


downs happen on the farm. Make sure repairs are done safely and with fire preven- tion in mind. Look around your work area for fire haz- ards and combustible mate- rials that could ignite before conducting hot works like welding or grinding. Sparks fly and loose feed, straw or fuels are a serious fire threat. Ventilation should also be considered before any hot work begins in a barn. It’s important to use welding mats to catch sparks and al- ways keep an ABC fire ex- tinguisher accessible to the work location.


Maintain electrical sys- tems


Wire connections in the


panel box should be regu- larly inspected and main- tained by a licensed electrician to ensure proper function and maintain per- formance. Electrical con- nection lugs can work loose through thermal cycles and are prone to corrosion and arcing. When making elec- trical repairs on the farm, ensure proper connections are used and all cover plates and panel covers are re- placed before circuits are re- energized. Electrical systems, in-


cluding panels and connec- tors, should be inspected at least every few years by a li- censed electrician, or more frequently if the opportunity arises. Farmers can also as- sess and monitor electrical systems with thermal FLIR (heat sensing) equipment, available to use free of charge from Farm & Food Care Ontario. For more in- formation


email:


info@farmfoodcare.org. Additional information and fire prevention tools may also available from your in- surance provider and their loss prevention specialist.


Upgrade plugs and recep- tacles


Corrosion plagues live-


stock barns. Moisture and manure gases are common causes of corrosion in pen- ning, equipment, panel boxes, electrical outlets and plugs. Some barns are more prone to corrosion that oth- ers, especially areas of a barn where hydrogen sul- fide, generated by manure gases, combine with oxygen and corrode exposed copper connectors. The use of reg- ular plug ends, especially in highly corrosive areas of a barn is a leading cause of


electrical barn fires. The best defence


against the corrosion of electrical equipment are NEMA 4X waterproof and corrosion resistant plugs and receptacles. NEMA 4X are water tight and are now the standard for food processors and packing plants. These are manufactured with a wa- terproof seal and are made of corrosion resistant metal blends. Replace old plugs and receptacles with NEMA 4X in equipment like wall fans, flex auger motors and ceiling outlets that are ex- posed to high concentrations of manure gases.


Plan ahead It’s important to adopt


fire safety and prevention early into the planning process of new barn build- ings or expansions. Im- proved fire safety can be incorporated in site design and layout, equipment, and the location of the electrical service rooms and supply. Work with builders, electri- cians and insurance loss pre- vention


throughout


professionals the design


process to reduce risk fac- tors and ensure you are adopting the best fire pre-


vention tools and technol- ogy available.


Fire prevention resources For more farm fire pre-


vention information visit www.farmfoodcareon.org/li vestock-emergencies


or


omafra.gov.on.ca to read the full resource, 10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Barn Fire.


Learn more about fire


prevention by visiting Equine Guelph and Equi- Mania! at Can-Am All Breed Equine Expo, April 5- 7 in Markham, ON. Participate in the Fire


& Emergency Preparedness online course, April 8-15, 2019. Learn best practices to prevent fires in your barn and equine facilities and how to be prepared for emergency situations. For more information visit the- horseportal.ca.


This article was pro-


duced as part of the Farm & Food Care Ontario: Live- stock Emergency Prepared- ness Project and the Reducing the Risk of Barn Fires Advisory Panel (2016). A group of con- cerned Ontario Farm Com- modity Groups,


Fire


Prevention Officers, Electri- cal Safety Professionals and Government of Ontario staff.


This project was


funded in part through the Canadian Agricultural Part- nership (the Partnership), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of the Part- nership in Ontario.


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