Ontario Encouraging Fire Safety

The province is encouraging fire safety for owners.

The latest barn fire in the Midwestern Ontario area late last week destroyed a barn between Zurich and Hensall and 1,000 pigs perished in the blaze.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is re-issuing a list of best practices.

The list includes:

• Have a qualified professional complete assessments of all farm buildings
• Have all electrical equipment inspected yearly by a licensed electrical contractor, including wiring, mechanical and heating systems
• When heat lamps are required, protect the immediate area with non-combustible sheathing and keep the area around the heat lamp clear of clutter
• Avoid storing dangerous fuels and chemicals such as gasoline, cleaning fluids or solvents inside barns
• Make sure a reliable source of water is available and easily accessible by fire departments.

The Ontario Fire Marshal estimates that barn fires represent an average annual cost of more than $25-million in Ontario, that between 2012 to 2014.

For a complete list of best management practices, click here.