Fire Preparedness for Ranches

Fire moves faster than most people expect, on grass, in hay and through a barn. A written plan, made before the smoke shows up, decides how many people and animals get out safely.

Key points

Reduce fuel near buildings and split up hay stacks.
Write an evacuation plan for people first, then cattle.
Keep roads, gates and water sources open for firefighters.
Maintain wiring, machines and extinguishers.
After a fire, have cattle examined and document losses.

Know your fire risks

Walk the place and look at what could burn and how fire could get to it. Dry grass, brush, hay stacks, wood buildings, fuel tanks, power lines and shop equipment all matter. Sparks from welding, mowers, trailer chains dragging on pavement and hot exhaust in tall grass start more fires than people realize.

Also learn how fire behaves in your region. Local fire departments, state forestry agencies and your extension office know the seasons, the wind patterns and the roads most likely to be cut off.

Do a risk walk each spring and again before the driest part of the year. Things change, and a new brush pile or stack of hay can alter the picture quickly.

Create defensible space and manage fuel

Reduce fuel near buildings by mowing, clearing brush and removing trash and dead wood. Keep hay stored away from houses and barns, and split large stacks into separate piles with space between them. Keep fuel tanks and chemical storage clear of vegetation. Grazing can reduce fine fuel in pastures, and your NRCS office can help with planning and may know of programs that assist.

Maintain fire breaks and keep gates and lanes open and wide enough for engines and trailers.

Mow and clear around buildings, tanks and hay
Space hay stacks apart and away from structures
Keep roads and gates clear for fire trucks
Check that hydrants, ponds or tanks are reachable
Keep tools such as shovels and extinguishers handy
Service machines and keep exhaust systems clean

Write an evacuation plan for cattle

Decide in advance where cattle will go if fire approaches. Identify a safe pasture with little fuel, a pen, or a destination ranch or sale facility. Arrange transport ahead of time and know how many trailers you need. In many fires there is not time to haul everything, so decide who and what leaves first. Sometimes opening gates to a burned or low-fuel area is the safest choice, and your plan should say who decides.

Make sure cattle are identifiable. Ear tags, brands where used and photographs help reunite lost animals with owners.

Protect people first

Human safety always comes before property and livestock. Set a clear point at which everyone leaves, whatever is left to do. Keep vehicles fueled and facing out, and keep phones charged. Know your local evacuation routes and warning systems. Tell family and employees where to meet and who to call. Never enter smoke or fire to rescue animals.

Keep a go-bag by the door with phones, chargers, medicine, important papers and a printed copy of your plan. Make sure every person on the ranch knows where it is.

Keep a list of neighbors and phone numbers so you can warn each other, and so someone will know to look for you if you do not check in.

Barn and equipment fire prevention

Keep electrical wiring in good order and have it inspected by a qualified electrician. Keep cobwebs, dust and loose hay away from lights and heaters. Do not leave heat lamps unattended. Store fuel and chemicals away from hay. Have fire extinguishers in barns, shops and vehicles, and learn how to use them. Hay can heat and burn from within when stored too damp, so ask your extension office about checking stack temperatures safely.

Check the area around the barn for loose hay, old rags and dust. Small fires start in small places.

During and after a fire

Work with fire officials and follow their orders. After the fire, wait for permission to return, and be careful of hot spots, falling trees and damaged power lines. Cattle may have burns, smoke injury or shock, so call your veterinarian to examine them, even those that look all right. Be careful about water and feed that may be contaminated. Document damage with photographs, and call your insurance agent and your local USDA FSA office to ask what recovery help exists.

Common mistakes

Waiting until fire is in sight, having no trailer plan, leaving gates locked or blocked, storing hay beside buildings, ignoring electrical problems and assuming the neighbors will help. Write the plan, share it, and walk through it with everyone on the place at least once a year.

Walk the plan with your family and workers as a drill. Even a short run-through finds weak spots, such as a gate that sticks or a trailer with a flat tire.

When to get help: Call your local fire department and state forestry agency for advice, your veterinarian for any burned or smoke-exposed cattle, and your FSA office and insurance agent about recovery help.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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