Advice from Those Who Have Suffered Devastating Barn Fires

In October, Peggy Knaus of Cleveland, Missouri lost eight horses in a barn fire, and Knaus shared some thoughts of what she learned from this tragic event. “First off, I would suggest a metal building–the less wood the better,” Knaus states. “Also, all electrical needs to be in metal conduit pipes. I don’t know if I would do a sprinkler system because of freezing being a problem, unless you live in a warm climate.”

According to Knaus, the first thing she would recommend is to buy the best fire alarm system that one can afford. “Even if it is just baby monitors for sound– horses whinny when there is a problem, but the best ones are those that connect you to 911, the fire department and anyone else you choose. They can be pricey but the devastation of losing the animals is completely unimaginable. You can’t fathom the deep sense of loss. They are your total responsibility.”

Knaus adds, “The most difficult part for me was when we were walking through the remains the first day and all the stall fronts fell in a unit–still connected, still all locked shut. There was no hope of escape for any of them. That stays with you for a long time.”

Horse trainers, Larry and Rhonda Spratto of Pickett, Wisconsin lost 13 horses in a barn fire in May of 2012. GoHorseShow asked Larry what he learned from this devastating experience.

Spratto said that he rebuilt his barn with MD stalls where there is no wood and no maintenance. The couple also did not build a hay loft above the stalls, and they now have a concrete floor inventory room in the front of the barn where the grain/shavings and hay is stored. They also installed water spigots in the front, center and back of the building. Additionally, there are six fire extinguishers located in the building.

“Our old barn had an extensive lightning rod system and was literally blown off the building, so not sure how effective they are,” Spratto says. “The new barn does not have lightning rods. The Fire Marshall thought we had multiple lighting hits and in hindsight, we are fortunate our house was not involved. We are feeling blessed as February 6th was the one year anniversary of having the horses back home.”

Masterson Farms in Somerville, Tennessee was built in 2007 with efficiency and safety in mind. One of the most beautiful equestrian facilities in the country and home to top sire, RL Best Of Sudden, Ken and Marilyn Masterson addressed every detail in its construction and are still concerned with fire safety.

“These fires are heart breaking and obviously difficult to prevent since so many flammables such as shavings, wood, and hay, exist around our barns,” Ken Masterson states. “I wish I knew something magic that provides total protection, but I certainly don’t.” 

Masterson continues, “We’ve tried to do the obvious things such as to minimize wood by using concrete block or steel construction, rather than wood framing, where possible. Even then, you sometimes end up with wood framing for the roof. We’ve also used lightning rods everywhere we can, although the extent to which they’re effective is of course debated. We’ve also tried to have all the electrical service in conduit and well protected with breakers. And, finally, of course, we have extinguishers in prominent locations throughout all the buildings and we prohibit smoking.”

Debbie Trubee of Pine View Farms, home to Invitation Only, Lazy Loper, Winnies Willy and The Best Martini, adds her thoughts and advice on this topic. “We do have fire inspections yearly as part of our insurance coverage requirement. I think a fresh set of eyes is very important to look over everything that may otherwise go unnoticed. We also have updated fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in every building as part of our insurance requirements. Our furnaces are serviced and cleaned yearly as well. The biggest barn here does have lightning rods. I just can’t fathom the horror of having a barn fire. Even with proactive checks in place, it can still happen.”