Yesterday I solved the problem of the West Barn cows water by dragging the emergency water barrel, which was half filled with frozen water all the way round and through the open gate, then into the barn and into their inside barn area so I could run a cable and drop a water heater into it and fill it up with buckets from the other side. (You see their normal watering hole is frozen solid for the winter and their usual winter watering space has been taken over by pigs. ) This was quite a haul and a number of times I had to sit on the side of the heavy water barrel and think about my life, as the snow fell on my face and the wind howled about my head, I had to give myself a good talking to about not being such a baby and this being one of those times I had to pull up my knickers and lift like a girl. Which I did. With the cows and the pigs through the fence and the dogs dancing to and fro – all lending moral support.
I looked at Carlos the IV and wondered about yoking him into a harness and letting him do the pulling. Dexters are supposed to make go0d oxen. But the fastest way to do anything is to put your back into it, do it yourself and Get It Done.
While I dragged this tub half filled with frozen water across the concrete pad I thought about fire.
I manage two old barns. Both of these barns have electricity, but no water. The water is carried in and then heated so it does not freeze solid. So for both of these barns I run long extension cords around the pens (so the pigs cannot chew on them) to the water barrels or heated dog bowls. Not all of these cords are new, not any of the barn wiring is new, fire is not new.
Every year I hear horror stories of heating lamps burning down chicken coops and all the birds, farrowing houses and all the pigs and piglets. A neighbour of mine burnt his whole barn full of pregnant sheep, this was caused by a heating lamp on the first lambs. A Dairy recently burnt killing too many cows. This is awful. It terrifies me. All these animals were locked into their pens.
So, I have two rules. One. If using a heating lamp it is on two chains, firmly attached and in a cage. So if one chain fails, the other catches it. If both fail and it falls the cage keeps it above the straw. I only use heating lamps in the first few days of an animals life if it is cold. And I check them obsessively. And always saying what if – what if. The chickens do not have heat lamps – not even in this cold.
My second rule – Every set of animals has an escape hatch. I have designed every pen so there is always a door open to the outside. Animals and birds do not lie in bed and think “Is that a fire I smell, honey, is that smoke?” Animals get the tiniest whiff of smoke and bolt for the open. In full flight. So I give them all a place to run. Though their beds are out of direct wind, this means that they will be cold. But the animals I live with are ok in cold, I raise no hot house flowers. We call is healthy ventilation. So, their doors stand open all winter except in a severe storm. I have a horror of fire. And a horror of animals and birds in full terror having no-where to run. I would hear their screams forever.
These barns are old, tinder dry and with all the water heating cords running through them and old wiring, I cannot ever be sure that there will never be a fire but I can give the animals a way out. To save themselves.
While I was writing this another farmer and member of The Fellowship was writing about the same thing. She makes some good points.
Good morning. The fear of fire is deep within us and the harnessing of it with respect for its power to destroy. The knowledge of it is a good thing. We do not play with fire here.
Much love,
celi
ps. Today I am going shopping. So I may not be back before dark then I will have to do chores in the dark. So maybe there will be no blog page tomorrow. Maybe.
The Kitchen's Garden 
78 responses to “Fear of Fire”
Very sensible 🙂
Morning Mad!
I’m thinking your two strong dogs need pulling harnesses. If my cocker can pull 15 lbs, I’m sure your dogs can pull more.
I’m with you on the fear of fire – though I only have a dog and no heating lamps. Just fear. I’ve made my neighbors swear to me that at any remote sign of fire that they will get my dog OUT. I don’t care if they kick down a door and in the end there is no fire. Better wrong and safe.
And I think your two strong dogs need pulling harnesses to help you out. My cocker can pull 15lbs with his harness, and he loves it. I hook the harness to a saucer shaped sled with a carabiner. It works great here on bare ground – no snow or ice. Your two dogs can certainly pull more weight and help you out.
Now that is a great idea-esp for boo. He is good strong dog. C
Fire is a frightful thought no matter its location. Candles are pretty, but equally, I watch them like a hawk. Hope your day shopping is enjoyable.
Although shopping is afoot I am really going up for the lunch with a good friend! On the train now. C
Bon appetite, and enjoy! xx
Yes very sensible. Happy shopping if there is such a thing!
There is as long as I get aglass of wine at lunch!
Ha ha a girl after my own heart! 🍷
I do not sleep when we have heat lamps going, even with my back ups on back ups. Fire and losing my animals gives me nightmares. They are shut off quickly but sometimes they are a necessity. My husband rewired our barn years ago so wiring ok but the heated buckets in the goats pens still bothers me even when we run cords behind walls, in pvc pipe etc. I have goats and the younger ones, especially males, chew!!! Only a few times have we had to shut off escape routes while lamps were on, a couple years ago when we had wicked east storms with ridiculous winds and heavy snow. That is the direction of two escape routes with no real fixes that I have come up with but still thinking. I don’t even close my eyes those nights. Bedroom window faces barn so I spend the night making sure I don’t c a glowing red light coming in the windows or bouncing off the ceiling. My son is a fireman so he has commented if we r doing good OR bad! Thanks for the reminder. I think I am going to purchase more for extinguishers for the barn.
I too make sure that no electrical line is through an animals pen. And like you I can see the barn from my bedroom window and if there is a heat lamp On I have the window open a crack so I can hear any changes and any fire alarms . Though if smoke has got up to them we are already in deep trouble .
Your foresight, planning, and back-up systems sire impressive.
Morning darling. C
FIre has always been the great enemy on farms, not cold. There’s a very, very old farmer’s saying from the south of England: “nor candle nor fire in barn or in byre” (byre being the cowshed for those not of the British persuasion). It dates back to the 1600s. Animals will sleep together for warmth, and kind farmers (who do we know like that?) will give them ample straw, heated water and in Sheila’s case, a nice blankie. But fire cannot be remedied. You are taking strict and careful precautions. Short of wiring fire alams from all the outbuildings back to the house, I don’t think there’s much more you could do. I don’t think at this time of year it gets warm enough there to use the embodied energy in big black tanks of sun-warmed water to raise the temperature inside the barns…
Once a man walked into my barn sucking on cigarette. I almost hit the roof and as you know I have a very high roof!
Once a man walked into my barn sucking on cigarette. I almost hit the roof and as you know I have a very high roof! And you are right – out here in the winter we sit below freezing for weeks – with very few sunny days. Very few – another reason for me to travel in the winter!
Come south, it’s waaarrrrmmmmmm!
The convent I was at boarding school at, burnt down twice. We were all shepherded out into the night and watched as some of our belongings were thrown down over the balconies and the rest was gone forever. I still remember the heat from those flames as they reached for the sky, and the awful smell. All nuns and children were rescued and then the town people rallied and brought tents, blankets, food and we lived in the veld (field) for days while the firefighters continued dampening down the smouldering mess. Classes continued …. The second fire a couple of years later was the last straw and the convent was closed forever. The fire drills between the two fires became much more meaningful and we were taught how to use the extinguishers for real, but much more importantly we were divided into groups and given very clear instructions how to vacate the buildings and get to safety, we were not allowed to carry any belongings – the nuns firmly believed that God would give back to us what we deserved. I am still not good at open bonfires and have several escape routes in my home – but I sure as nuts would not leave my animals behind.
On a brighter note it is 23C and overcast and raining on and off, UK cricket team playing a test against SA, ah well. Laura
What a terrible story . Though classes In a field sounds like an experience. Did you go to another boarding school?
yes when it closed after the 2nd bigger fire. Did last 2 years closer to home. Laura
Thank God for Celie’s strength, willpower and foresight. I am always afeared of fire.
Enjoy your shopping.
love,
ViV
I will. I looking for my daughters birthday present. I know what she wants though- just an excuse for lunch in the city . C
In an odd coincidence, there’s a fire less than 2 blocks from here. About 45 minutes ago, there was a collection of sirens running through the neighborhood and now there’s a news helicopter overhead. Local news just reported that the fire had been put out but had somehow restarted. Thankfully, it’s not a home but an urgent care office and no one had reported to work yet. It doesn’t matter where you live or work, fire is always a concern.
Fires in the city are nasty ! They spread so easily . The weather looks great today. I am pleased.
What if …those thoughts will always push you to be more careful. You are looking at the problem with open eyes. It is a good practise to review your equipment and practices. I’m careful with candles and exit plans. I was lying awake, mentally packing my suitcase and finally got up and made coffee.
I had a husky once, that the boys made a cart and harness for. The plan was for him to help deliver the papers. They failed to consult the dog however, and he just sat down in the traces! Enjoy your day.
That is such a funny story. I may have to research the plan to put boo into a harness! Maybe should have started when he was younger
you sure do not pull any punches in your words…’pull up knickers and get on with it’ what a lovely vision it gives to imagination….. I have also read about these bad things happening to farms and to animals an the thing I do not want to read it that it has happened on our Farmy…so I hope that when you went shopping that you bought some new wiring….. Have a great day lots of love
john has rewired quite a bit of the home barn but these old barns have secrets
I share your fear of a potential fire in the farm buildings, Cele. One additional thing I do is plug every electrical water heating device – stock tank heater and electric buckets – into a short GFI outlet extension cord. Only a couple of feet long, and costing less than $20 each, I’m hoping to protect myself from the “it was the wiring that started the fire” scenario. It also provides an easy on/off mechanism to the heating device plugged into it. It helps me to sleep a little better.
Thank you. This is good advice. I will invest in some.
Wow – as you well know… anything with frozen water in it is extra heavy. You are just something else my friend. I’m like you – I get determined and think, “I’m going to lift this sucka – and that’s that’….. and now I have an umbilical hernia. (But umbilical hernias are rather common in women my age… so you’re OK!!) Have a wonderful day shopping – I don’t like to think of you doing chores in the dark and cold but farmers have been doing that forever, as you know. Hmmm…. and that’s probably a good reason (along with the economics of small scale farming) why so many smaller family farms end up being sold. No one could ever say you don’t have lots of courage!!!!
Many people worked hard so their children did not have to. Consequently they do not know how. And never wanted to take over the aging farms. I have never understood how hard healthy muscle building work could be a bad thing .