PasoVoice.Com :: Barn Fire

pasosx3

Hi,

I'm sharing this with you because I think it serves as a very important reminder to all of us who have horses or know someone who has horses. Please feel free to pass it along.

Earlier this week, here in North West FL, there was a deadly Barn fire at a local Horse Boarding Facility. Three horses and 2 dogs died. Two horses were able to escape. Attached to this Barn was a "Bunk House" with living quarters, small kitchen and bathroom. There was a couple living temporarily in the bunk house. They think the fire was an electrical fire, but it is still under investigation. I spoke to the lady who owns the Barn and she is still devastated by it all as I'm sure you can imagine.

This story hits home for Rob and I particularly hard because this is the very same Boarding Facility where I USED to keep my horses (they got moved about a year ago--thank God). The Barn that burned down was the very same Barn that my 2 stallions, Candeloso and Emperador were housed in! I am still trying to deal with it emotionally, it is all so tragic. That is why the phrase "There but by the grace of God go I" keeps going through my head. I am sure that anyone who has horses knows that that could have been or could in the future be them. Barn Fires are a constant risk to us all. I feel extremely lucky, this time.

So, please, please, please, today, think about your Barn and Barn Safety Plan so that you can decrease the risk of fire in your Barn and have a plan of action in case this happens to you.

By the way, the lady who owns the Facility was home at the time, but the Barn burned so quickly that by the time she saw the flames from her house it was too late and the couple that lived in the barn were not there at the time. So, again, please, if you don't have a Plan in place or if you haven't taken steps to "fire proof" your Barn, please think about it and take the proper steps necessary. I just can't imagine how devastating it would be to lose a cherished horse or other animal in such a tragic fashion.

Thanks for reading this.

Best Regards,
Becky Anderson

caliber · Site Admin

BEcky thanks for sharing, I will never forget the barn fire I experienced once.. PPR Plebeyo was there! luckily! they managed to open the door of his stall just in time!

We must keep in mind that access...... to a barn is very important..... drive ways must be wide enough for a fire trucks to get in! just in case.........

Again! Thanks for sharing! Sad

cristy

A very dear friend of mine lost 13 prized Paso Finos in a barn fire in 1997, It was arsen though. The pain of that will stay with me forever. The ONLY comfort we got was that her isles were made of belting and the fireman said there was so much smoke the horses were dead before they burned up, they said from the looks of their bodies they just laid down and went to sleep. Definately a horse owners worse nightmare!

pasosx3

Oh Cristy, I just can't imagine. How horrible and to have it be arson? How could anyone? Perhaps some but not much solace in knowing the horses asphyxiated first.

Caliber: How fortunate the horse was able to escape. And, good advice about the drive way widths. As a result, I am re-looking into that very thing right now as I plan my fencing layouts. I am also considering a sprinkler system in my barn.