Encouraging Fire Safety for Barn Owners

Jan 25, 2016

From OMAFRA

Barn fires can cause a devastating loss of livestock and assets for owners in addition to emotional and economic hardships for families, businesses and communities.

There are best practices to follow to reduce the risk of barn fires:

Have a qualified professional complete assessments of all farm buildings
Have all electrical equipment inspected yearly by a licensed electrical contractor, including wiring, mechanical and heating systems
When heat lamps are required, protect the immediate area with non-combustible sheathing, keep the area around the heat lamp clear of clutter or bedding materials that could catch fire and only use heat lamps with the CSA or ULC label
Establish good housekeeping practices - eliminate clutter inside and outside the buildings to the risk of fire spreading
Be sure to check exposed electrical equipment for corroded parts and repair all damaged fixtures or equipment as soon as possible
Avoid storing dangerous fuels and chemicals such as gasoline, cleaning fluids or solvents inside barns
Ensure that all applicable regulations are followed when constructing or renovating farm buildings
Make sure all equipment and motors are in good working condition, and free from dust and debris
Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand
Make sure a reliable source of water is available and easily accessible by fire departments.

Owners of farm buildings are encouraged to follow these best management practices when working with livestock in farm buildings. Planning ahead to reduce risks and prevent accidents will help protect employees, family members and animals.

Video: What is Chicken Feed Made From?? | MD F&H

In Queen Anne in Queen Anne’s county, Farmer David Denny works hard to raise hundreds of chickens so that they may reach regular growth milestones on schedule. This is important because poultry integrators like Purdue require the chickens to be a certain size and weight in a set number of weeks. How can such a feit be accomplished so consistently in such a short period of time? It’s all due to the birds' carefully planned diet, which is tailor-made to meet their nutritional needs. The process begins long before any chickens even arrive on the farm all thanks to Farmer David and the grains he grows throughout the year. These grains are in turn used to create the exact feed which provides the necessary nutrients to the David Denny Farm’s poultry.