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Fire and Wildfire Prevention Tips

Agriculture can be risky business. Among the common risks facing farms and ranches is fire; both accidental fires and wildfires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, on average, 20,000 agricultural-related fires cause $102 million in direct property losses and result in 25 fatalities each year. More than half of agricultural fires involve brush or grass, while about one-third are equipment fires that involve vehicles, processing equipment, fixed wiring, heaters and torches. Two-thirds of agricultural fires occur in fields or orchards, with the remaining one-third affecting livestock or poultry operations.

The combination of increased risk and high-value assets makes fire protection at farms and ranches a high priority. The first step in minimizing the fire and wildfire risk is increased knowledge and awareness. You don't have to lose your farm or ranch and your possessions to fires. It's never too early to prepare. Take several basic steps right now to protect your family, farm/ranch and property from disaster.

Basic Fire Prevention Preparation

• Identify and minimize the risk of possible fire hazards in your operations and residence.
  
• Remove or isolate highly flammable and combustible materials and accelerants where possible.
  
• Train and conduct fire drills for employees and family members so everyone will know what to do in the event of a fire.
  
• Develop a plan to evacuate livestock, or maintain an area where livestock can be moved such as a plowed or heavily grazed field or pasture providing water and shade.
  
• Facilitate fire service response by working with your fire department to make certain that adequate water supply is available, and that obstructions are removed from aisles, walkways, driveways, and doors in order to provide fire service with a clear path. Provide a list of stored hazardous materials to your fire department and update regularly.
  
• Stress the importance of everyday maintenance and housekeeping.
  
• Post signs and enforce “No Smoking” bans in barns and around machinery and combustible and flammable materials.
  
• Install, inspect and maintain appropriate warning and extinguishing systems in residences, farm buildings, on tractors, combines and around mechanized equipment. This should include fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, fire alarms and, ideally in some locations and circumstances, sprinklers.
  

Farm Buildings and Residences

• When building or remodeling, identify and meet the most recently approved requirements of your state and local building, electrical, and fire codes. Where possible, use ignition resistant or noncombustible building materials.
  
• Install smoke detectors and fire alarms. Consider sprinkler systems and carbon monoxide detectors where appropriate.
  
• Locate new buildings a safe distance from others to prevent the rapid spread of fire.
  
• Where barns or other farm buildings are 50 feet or less from one another, regularly cut vegetation between them and maintain a cleared area of 30 feet from these buildings.
  
• Use approved fire doors on farm buildings.

Machinery and Tractors

• Make certain exhaust systems including manifolds, mufflers and turbochargers, are free of leaks and in good working order. Avoid parking hot machinery on or near dry grass or other dry vegetation.
  
• Follow instructions when installing and operating farm machinery and follow maintenance schedules including cleaning of chaff, dust, and other combustible materials.
  
• Keep appropriate fully charged fire extinguishers on tractors, combines, and near all farm machinery.
  
• Welders, grinders, and cutting torches should only be used in clean areas at least 35 feet away from any flammable and combustible materials. Welding curtains should be used to minimize the spread of sparks.

Flammable and Combustible Materials

• Locate above-ground fuel tanks at least 40 feet away from buildings; liquid propane storage tanks should be placed according to NFPA 58.
  
• Maintain a ten foot noncombustible area around all fuel tanks.
  
• To prevent spontaneous combustion, cure hay to the proper moisture content before baling or stacking/storing.
  
• Do not allow grass silage to become too dry. Make certain upright silos do not have air leaks.
  
• Store compressed gases in upright cylinders away from heat sources and secure to a wall to prevent them from tipping over.
  

Open Burning

• Always comply with state or local regulations regarding open burning. Secure permits if necessary and notify the local fire department before you begin burning.
  
• Do not burn on high wildfire risk days, or days with unfavorable weather such as high winds, low relative humidity, or dry and hot conditions. Drought conditions can elevate the wildfire risk.
  
• Build a fire break around the area being burned to contain the fire.
  
• Keep equipment (rakes, shovels, water hoses) nearby to assist in fighting the fire if needed. For large burns it may be necessary to use tractors with discs, plows, and large sprayers to aid in containment.
  
• If the fire is getting out of control, call the fire department immediately.
  
• Never leave the fire unattended.

Wildfire Hazards

• Remove highly flammable vegetation from within at least 30 feet of residences and farm buildings.
  
• Create noncombustible zones around spaces where equipment, fuel, hay and chemicals are stored.
  
• Create and maintain appropriate types and sizes of fire guards around pastures and crops.
  
• Keep roofs free of combustible debris and materials, and enclose eaves.
  
• Do not store combustible materials under elevated platforms, and enclose the areas under them with mesh screen to prevent burning embers from accumulating in these areas.
  
• Construct and update farm buildings using ignition resistant and noncombustible materials, including siding, chimneys, roofs, doors and windows.
  
• Consider installing sprinklers to protect residences, farm buildings and vegetation.

Regional Wildfire Mitigation Guides

Wildfire risks can vary from region to region due to variations in topography, climate, and vegetation. To help property owners better understand their risks, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety developed the following guides. Each guide contains a property assessment form, including a cost estimate tool, which will help property owners assess their wildfire risk and prioritize necessary retrofit projects.

• Central U.S. (IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MO, NE, OH) (PDF)
  
• Great Lakes (MI, MN, WI) (PDF)
  
• Mid-Atlantic & Northeast (CT, DE, ME, MD, NH, NY, PA, RI, WV, VT, VA) (PDF)
  
• Pacific Northwest (ID, Northern CA, OR, WA) (PDF)
  
• Rocky Mountain (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (PDF)
  
• Southern California (PDF)
  
• Southeast (AL, AR, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN) (PDF)
  
• Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK, TX) (PDF)

Wildfire Brochures

A quick reference guide to creating defensible space and mitigating wildfire risk around your property.

• Reducing Wildfire Risk for Farms and Ranches (PDF)
  
• Reducing Wildfire Risk for Homeowners (PDF)

Wildfire Video

You may find the attached video helpful in understanding how your residence can be impacted by wildfire. The “Home Ignition Zone” is the area that includes the home and its immediate surroundings and determines a home’s ignition resistance during a severe wildfire.

Watch this video to learn how a wildfire can ignite your home.

The information provided in the third party website linked above was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Nationwide, its affiliates and employees do not guarantee improved results based upon the information contained therein and assume no liability in connection with the information safety suggestions or loss mitigation recommendations provided. The recommendations are general in nature and unique circumstances may not warrant or require some or all of the safety and loss mitigation suggestions. There may be additional safety procedures and loss mitigation suggestions that are not referenced in the linked site.

This information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can’t guarantee these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.

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