Firefighters battle a blaze in Leamington on January 5, 2016. (Photo courtesy Bob Kissner)Firefighters battle a blaze in Leamington on January 5, 2016. (Photo courtesy Bob Kissner)
Sarnia

Fire Prevention Officer Expects More Talk About Barn Fire Safety

James Marshall expects a recent rash of large barn fires to prompt more discussion about barn fire safety in Ontario.

Marshall is the Fire Prevention Officer for Morris-Turnberry and North Huron.

He says changes in the building code and inspections have been among the suggestions already made regarding barn fires.

Marshall points out we're no longer at a point where the loss of a bank barn comes to about 70 thousand dollars.

When you lose a horse stable or 2 thousand hogs and a large hog barn, he says the situation is starting to get noticed.

Marshall says he hopes whatever changes are needed get put in place before we start losing people's lives in barn fires or explosions which may have been preventable.

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Marshall says there are a number of things farmers can do to be prepared for a fire on their property.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MARSHALL-Fire-1.mp3"][/audio]

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Marshall cautions even wiring that's only 2 or 3 years old can degrade quickly, depending on the processes being used in the barn.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MARSHALL-Fire-2.mp3"][/audio]

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Marshall says a recent rash of barn fires is focussing attention on that sector.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MARSHALL-Fire-3.mp3"][/audio]

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Marshall says we're no longer at the point where we're seeing a 70 thousand dollar loss from a fire in a bank barn.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MARSHALL-Fire-4.mp3"][/audio]

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