FIRE PREVENTION WEEK | October 6 – 12, 2019

Posted On Thursday October 10, 2019

Let's talk about barns and fire safety concerns:

Barn Fires

As mutual insurers, we’ve been acutely aware of the increasing trend on farm fires in 2017 and 2018, particularly those fires involving the loss of livestock.

This trend has not escaped the notice of the general agricultural community. The December 18, 2018 issue of Ontario Farmer focused on increasing incidents of barn fires and the resulting increase in the cost of farm insurance.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, many commodity groups and Farm and Food Care are all turning their attention to the cause and effect of barn fires and we can expect to hear more about this in 2019. OMIA and Farm Mutual Re are supporting these efforts to reduce and eliminate large farm fire losses.

Prevention is key:

Some fires are caused by outside factors including spontaneous wildfires and prescribed burns that spread out of control, but most are preventable with proper preparation.

Electrical irregularities

During 2017, electrical issues topped the list of common problems found during routine inspections, reported Daily Commercial News. Installation of electrical wires by a non-licensed professional can lead to general problems and sparks.

Even systems that are installed properly can experience issues over time as environmental factors can cause the corrosion of exposed wires and connectors, leading to resistance at the damaged points. Increased resistance causes more energy to be converted to heat since it cannot easily flow through the circuit, and that rise in temperature can ignite nearby materials or equipment, based on information shared by OMAFRA.

Aside from systematic problems with wiring, one of the biggest concerns is related to extension cords. Extension cord fires injure 270 people every year, said a report by Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). If an extension cord must be used, make sure it's uncoiled completely, not touching any surrounding materials, not placed near standing water or snow, and is approved for its intended use by a third-party rating agency. To be safe, farm operators should never leave one unattended, especially in a confinement barn or near livestock.

Building and structural factors

Canadian regulatory bodies offer clear guidelines for safe building practices that can contribute to fire prevention. For example, the National Farm Building Code of Canada (NFBCC) limits open floor space in a one-story barn to 4,800 meters squared and a two-story barn cannot exceed 2,400 m2 in open floor space reported OMAFRA. Between each area, firewalls with a rating of at least one hour must be present. Open areas in ceilings and lofts should have even less open space at only 30 m2 between firewalls. Without firestops dividing rooms, an entire building can burn down in half an hour.

Each building on a property should be separated by at least 24 meters so fires cannot easily jump from one structure to the next. Between barns and other facilities all dry brush, trees and flammable materials should be removed.

Detection and safety

Agricultural buildings have different requirements for fire detection than residential properties. Smoke alarms made for homes are not adequate for fire detection in large, open barns as these alarms are too quiet for active farms and might go off too late after a fire has started, wrote William Eppich on Fire Safety for Barns. While it never hurts to have traditional smoke alarms in office areas, make sure to have commercial grade smoke detectors and bells loud enough to alert workers even if no one is in the facility.

Heat detectors are a more reliable method for fire detection, as they'll detect when any area or component is overheating rather than just detecting the byproducts of an active fire. This type of detection can allow farmers to act ahead of time and remove a heat source before ignition.

Inspections and monitoring

When constructing a new barn or storage facility, the local fire department can provide insight on initial construction plans to help avoid hazardous materials and building practices. A mutual insurance company can usually provide an agent to help do final checks of a building for electrical and structural issues after completion and will occasionally offer favorable rates if prevention methods are used.

Source: Ontario Mutuals Insurance Association (OMIA)

Know your limits

Being underinsured can happen, and there is nothing worse than experiencing a fire and finding out you are not adequately insured for the loss.

Ensure your barn(s), including contents and equipment are insured to an appropriate value. Review building, livestock, and equipment limits and coverage with your agent annually.

Advise your agent or broker anytime you make upgrades or purchase new equipment.

Contact your agent or broker today to make sure you are fire safe and adequately insured.