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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] MSAR - Barn Fires versus wildfires

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  • From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] MSAR - Barn Fires versus wildfires
  • Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 18:59:21 -0400

There are two very different situations being discussed here-- evacuation
before a wildfire and during a barn fire or other single site emergency.
Both activities can be theoretically prevented by proper prevention and
creating defensible space.

First barns-- barns catch fire due to lack of prevention. Deteriorated
wires, keeping flammables in a barn, failure to keep dust and cobwebs down,
etc. and then there are the people who can't read no smoking signs. Around
here there is also arson to collect on race horse insurance. The horse
thinks it is safe in the barn and often will return to safety rather than
face the terrors of screaming people, flames and fire trucks later on.
I have been to a few barn fires and all but one of the horses was gotten out
and stayed out. The one we lost was the last one out of a stone bank barn
and the handlers forgot to lock a gate, letting him run back in.
That fire was caused by stacking a few hundred tons of fresh cut hay over
the horses, a preventable fire.

Wildfires cover large areas and are not necessarily preventable due to the
natural causes. However, many have learned that by keeping areas clear of
heavy fuels around their buildings and shelters that the fire can be
diverted around high value targets. Realizing that free range animals don't
have a barn to run to establishing refuge areas around water sources may be
possible. When a fire approaches bulldoze and turnover a firebreak. There
should also be barriers around your buildings, pumps and tanks. Using block
versus wood or sheet metal will also protect infrastructure. And maybe you
should schedule dispersal sales before fire season.

The whole point is that you must plan. If there are only two people around
to handle a dozen horses in a barn you will loose them because no barn is
going to be inhabitable in a fire after 3-5 minutes and you need at least
one person per horse unless they have been trained to run out to their
paddock as a herd.

Californians have learned the hard way that brush clearing laws and fire
resistant construction save houses. If you need to move 100 head in an
emergency you need 4 or more tractor trailers and a bunch of hands to work
roundup and chutes. Better to have a refuge for shelter in place than have
to truck them out and maybe back later. And look into fire sprinklers for
your barn.
Irv Lichtenstein





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