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: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.