Fire prevention and control on pig farms
While there is always a risk of fire, it is much greater during periods of prolonged high temperatures and dry conditions. Below are some useful tips for fire prevention and what to do if a fire breaks out.
In the event of a fire
- Call 999 immediately; do not try to put the fire out on your own
- Ensure all members of staff are on one side of the fire and know where the assembly point is
- Do not re-enter a burning building; it will be much more dangerous the second time
- In the event of a fire on a neighbouring farm or field, you may wish to temporarily move your hay and straw stacks and create a firebreak on the edge of the field
- Ensure the fire engine and firefighting machinery are not in the path of the fire
- Turn the electricity off, if safe to do so
- Be aware that opening doors may encourage fire to spread
- Ensure nothing is blocking the entrance for the fire service
- If pigs are in the building, they will be reluctant to move
Taking care of people
- Ensure that at least one member of staff can take action and coordinate other staff in the event of a fire
- Employees must be informed of where all the fire extinguishers are kept
- Keep the grid references for your fields somewhere handy to give to the fire service in the event of a fire
- Find out who your local fire officer is; they may be able to visit to check access and water supply
- You may wish to provide out-of-hours contact details on the farm gate
- Create an animal evacuation plan, if you don’t already have one
Combustible materials
- Store hay and straw in buildings as far away from livestock as possible
- Regularly cut grass verges and vegetation growing around farm buildings
- Be aware of prevailing wind; ensure machinery is not parked in the path of a potential fire
Machinery and equipment
- Have a tractor and cultivating equipment on standby should you need to create a firebreak around the field or perimeter of your unit (this might involve a neighbour)
- Ensure there are no fuel or oil leaks on equipment
- Ensure all electrical equipment is maintained
- Ensure heat lamps cannot be dislodged by sows; a metal cage around the shade can prevent a hot bulb dropping onto flammable materials
Water and fire extinguishers
- Keep a full water bowser or tank next to buildings and in fields, if harvesting, and provide extra tanks on outdoor pig units in case of fire (you could also use a slurry tanker)
- Regularly check and maintain open-water supplies that could be used for firefighting
- Ensure fire extinguishers are:
- Fit for purpose
- Kept in vehicles that will be used during the hot weather (this could be the farm truck or gator used to check stock if machinery isn’t used)
- In easily accessible locations
Further information
More information on fire control can be found via the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) and the NFU.