Fires can have devastating consequences, including loss of life. Therefore taking as many precautions as possible, to prevent fires on and around the yard, is vital.

In the Event of a Fire:

• Raise the alarm.
• Dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade giving the full address of the yard.
• Move the horses closest to the fire first.
• If safe, fight the fire.

Fire extinguishers:

• All fire extinguishers should be serviced yearly, to ensure they remain in good working order.
• Stable block should not be more than 25m away from a fire extinguisher.
• The fire extinguishers should be clearly labelled as to which type of fire it should be used for:
  • Class A: SOLIDS such as paper, wood, plastic etc.
  • Class B: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS such as paraffin, petrol, oil etc.
  • Class C: FLAMMABLE GASES such as propane, butane, methane etc.
  • Class D: METALS such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium etc.
  • Class E: Fires involving ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.
  • Class F: Cooking OIL & FAT etc.
• New extinguishers should conform to BS EN 3. It requires the entire body of the extinguisher to be coloured red. A zone of colour, up to 5% of the external area, can be used to identify the contents.

Risk Assessments:

The purpose of a risk assessment is to:

1. Identify hazards.
2. Decide who is at risk of these hazards, and how.
3. Evaluate the risks.
4. Decide on what precautions are necessary.
5. Record you findings.
6. Review your assessment and update when necessary.

Risk assessments must be written down if there are five or more staff, or minors present on the yard. It should contain a detailed plan of the evacuation procedure in the event of a fire, for both people and animals. All staff should be fully trained on this procedure.

Access for the Fire brigade and Ambulance:

• There must not be over-hanging branches, preventing access for large vehicles.
• Cattle grids must be strong enough to support fire engines.
• Check your gateways are wide enough to fit large vehicles through.
• A pre-prepared plan of the yard should be available to give to the fire brigade on arrival.

Electrical Equipment:

Faulty electrical equipment is a common cause of fires.

• All electrical appliances should be PAT-tested.
• Fit tack rooms, kitchens and communal areas with working smoke detectors.
• All electrical wires should be fully insulated, and out of reach of the horses.
• Do not over-load socket adapters and extension cables.
• Unwind extension cables fully before use. A coiled cable can over-heat very easily.

Fire Hazards:

• Hay and straw should be stored as far away, and downwind, from the stable block.
• The muck heap should be as far away from the stable block as possible. Spontaneous combustion is a high fire risk.
• The muck heap should be moved regularly. This prevents it becoming too high, or over-heating.
• Large muck heaps should be built in steps, to prevent over-heating.
• Lorries, quads lawnmowers etc should not be stored near the hay and straw barns. They contain diesel or petrol tanks which are highly flammable.
• Farriers, hot-shoeing horses, should be provided with a clean, dry area away from hay and straw.
• Do not store gas cylinders close to the stables. Even if there are horses in the building, the fire brigade will not enter a stable block which has gas cylinders nearby.
• Florescent lighting strips should be covered; this prevents dust building up, causing over-heating.

Removing Horses from stables: 

• This should only be done if safe to do so.
• Headcollars should be hung outside every stable. Horses will be very unwilling to leave their stable if they are frightened.
• Remove the horses closest to the fire first.
• Evacuate to a safe field upwind from the fire. Remember the embers in the air, from the fire, can land on rugs and set them alight.
• Stallions must have a separate field to be put in.

Fire Precautions Around the Yard:

• There should be NO SMOKING anywhere on the yard. A designated smoking area should be available, away from the yard area, and a bucket of sand available to extinguish cigarettes.
• Fire plans must be well rehearsed. Plan for every eventuality, even darkness.
• The yard should be well signed at the end of the lane. This ensures the fire brigade and ambulances know where to go.
• Always keep the yard clean and tidy. Sweep up loose hay or straw, and put rubbish in the designated bins.
• The "fire point" should be clearly visible and in a safe area of the yard. The carpark is usually a good place.
• Fire exits should be sign posted and always kept vacant.
• Fire fighting equipment should be easily accessible, and in good working order.
• All staff should be taught how to use fire fighting equipment.
• Fire hoses located next to taps are a good idea, if the water pressure is good.
• The office should display detailed instructions of what to do in the event of a fire.
• All members of staff should be well educated in what to do in the event of a fire.
• The yard should have visible signs and instructions:
  • NO SMOKING signs all around the yard.
  • Above each fire extinguisher there should be a sign explaining how to use the extinguisher and a instrument to raise the alarm eg. a whistle.
  • There should be details outlining the following:
    • How to raise the fire alarm (a bell, whistle, alarm etc).
    • Have a designated area for individual horses ie stallions etc.
    • Location of the telephone.
    • The full address, including postcode, of the yard should be visible in the office window.
    • Everyone should know where the fire point is.