Farm Fire and Emergency Sketch

Farm fires, especially those involving livestock, are a devastating and stressful event for farm families. The property damage, loss of poultry or livestock, interruption of production and injuries cost the Ontario agricultural industry millions of dollars a year.

What is a Farm Fire and Emergency Sketch?

A farm fire and emergency sketch is an aerial photo of your farm that identifies significant farm features, fire risk areas, water sources and access routes for emergency vehicles. Developing this sketch is an important first step in preparing for emergencies, as information given during an emergency, when stress levels are high, can be sporadic and incomplete, or the person who has the information may not be available.

The sketch can also be used for:

• training your family and employees for emergency situations
• developing a preventative maintenance and housekeeping schedule to reduce the risks of fire
• ensuring the safety of first responders during an emergency

We recommend that you store your sketch at your operation to have on-hand in the event of an emergency. It's also a good idea to share it with local fire prevention officers or use it as a basis for a fire prevention inspection (a service offered by some municipalities). Giving first responders the sketch ahead of time will help them to know potential risks on your farm, and provides an opportunity to improve their response to an emergency.

Creating a Farm Fire and Emergency Sketch

Step 1: Aerial Photo

Get an aerial image of your farm and property. You can find an aerial image of your farm using the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' (OMAFRA) Agricultural Information Atlas (AIA) at ontario.ca/agmaps. However, an aerial image from any source will work.

Step 2: Farm Fire and Emergency Checklist

With the help of first responders, we compiled a checklist to help you identify the important items to include in your sketch (attached). Items included in the checklist are based on first responder knowledge of how farm fires start, how fires could have been prevented and the site specific details that affect the response to a fire or emergency.

Using the checklist as a guide, identify all of your farm's features on the aerial image using labels. You can label the features by hand, with icons, stickers or shapes, or whatever helps you to create a comprehensive and legible sketch. We have attached a page of icons that you can use for your sketch. If the sketch becomes too cluttered, use more specific aerial images to break down your sketch into the various sections of your property.

In addition to the checklist, here are some other items to consider for your sketch:

• where you think the highest risks are
• areas of the farm where combustible materials are stored close to sources of ignition
• where livestock can be corralled if it is possible to turn livestock loose in the event of a fire

Step 3: Legend

Create a legend that describes what each label or icon on your sketch means, and always keep the legend with the sketch. Include emergency contact information in the legend or on the map.

Final Product

Figure 1 is an example of a completed farm fire and emergency sketch with a legend. The sketch shows that the farm keeps 45 dairy heifers and 250 feeder hogs in separate barns. It identifies the laneway access to the property, location of the equipment shed and any fuel or chemical storages. A safe meeting place where all people are to gather in an emergency is marked.

Figure 1. Example of a completed farm fire and emergency sketch with legend

The items in the checklist and on the sketch will vary from farm to farm and may change over time, so we recommend that you regularly review your sketch and update it if necessary.

Next Steps

There is more you can do to create a safer farm for you, your family, your employees and your livestock.

Training

Train your family and employees in how to respond during an emergency. Review the sketch with family members and employees to identify safe meeting spots, evaluate laneway accessibility and discuss livestock management in the event of a fire.

Maintenance

Use the sketch in combination with the checklist to identify any areas on your farm that could be updated for safety. Reviewing these areas on a regular basis will not only reduce the risk of fire, but also increase the safety of everyone on the farm during an emergency, including first responders. This might include

• trimming branches and tree limbs
• clearing laneways and paths during winter
• storing flammable materials properly and away from ignition sources

Emergency planning

Contact your municipal office and fire department to see if they offer fire prevention services. Many insurance companies, as well as the Electrical Safety Authority, offer inspection services for the purpose of reducing the risk of a fire. Review your farm fire and emergency sketch with them as they may have additional advice on how to reduce the risk of fire or other emergencies. They may also review their response protocols in the event that a fire does occur.

Industry awareness

Talk to different groups or farm organizations about how to manage livestock during a crisis. They may have information available about livestock behaviour during farm fires. Understanding how livestock behave under stress can make a huge difference in managing expectations or rescuing them during fires.

Additional Information

• Perth East Farm Fire Safety Program
• OMAFRA Publication 837, "Reducing the Risk of Fire on Your Farm"
• Farm & Food Care emergency resources

Farm Fire and Emergency Checklist

Date Sketch Created:_______________________________

Farm name _______________________________________

Address __________________________________________

Emergency Contacts

__Spills Action Centre 1-800-268-6060

__Hydro

__Union Gas or propane supplier

__Livestock vet

__Hospital

Roads and Laneway Access

__Roads to farm, including nearest crossroads

__Safety meeting point

__Traffic control (someone to direct fire trucks, block roads from public traffic, etc.)

__Any potential access barriers

__Inaccessible sides of buildings

__Seasonal access points

__Overhanging trees

__Soft laneways not suitable for larger vehicles

__Other

All Utility Shutoffs

__Hydro (per building and farm)Natural gas

__Propane

__Heating oil

__Backup generators

__Anaerobic digester generator

__Solar panel disconnect

Alternative Energy Sources

__Solar panels - ground mounted

__Solar panels - roof mounted

__Battery bank location

__Anaerobic digester

Onsite Water Sources

__Surface water - ponds, rivers, creeks

__Cisterns

Environmental Notes

__Wells

__Tile inlets and catchbasins

__Surface water (in case of spills)

Buildings

__House or other residential area

__Permitted smoking areas

__Livestock housing

__Equipment storage

__Workshop

__Fruit/vegetable storage

__Grain storage

Livestock Housing

__Indicate all livestock housing buildings and type of livestock in each building

__Swine

__Sheep

__Dairy

__Goats

__Beef

__Horses

__Poultry

__Mixed

__Other

__Attic access points

__Bale or feed chute

__Accessible doorways and gates for livestock

__Combustibles (hay, straw)

__Manure storage

__Underground __Above ground

__Slatted Flooring materials

__Concrete __Plastic slats

__Manure clean out (holes in floor or walls)

__Pass through holes (poultry)

Chemical Storages

__Fertilizer

__Pesticide, herbicide, etc.

Fuel Storages

__Propane tank

__Gas

__Diesel

__Oil

Existing Fire Prevention

__Sprinklers

__Internal fire walls or doors

__Fire retardant curtains

__Other: (list - e.g. dry hydrant)

Disclaimer

This web page is intended for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide engineering, legal or other advice. OMAFRA does not guarantee absolute accuracy or sufficiency of subject material, nor can we accept responsibility for health and safety recommendations that may have been omitted. We recommend that you consult with your own professional engineer or lawyer as applicable to determine the best course of action or legal requirements applicable to your farm.