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Yes
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The barn amazingly enough does not but I do!
We have been through three fires in the 16 years we have been here. We were freaked out the first time. Areas around us were on “order” to evacuate. We are on “alert”. We could see the flames and orange sky from just down the road from our house. But we are fairly remote from most civilization, and what was burning was forest. It made us do some thinking about fires happening close to us, and what we were going to do.
We had enough horses that it would be difficult to evacuate them. We have fewer now, but still an issue. In conversation with other local farmers, many of whom have been here far longer than we have, we learned a lot. All of the farmers in our valley have irrigation running in the summer on hayfields. In viewing nearby areas which have been through fires, we have seen that irrigated hayfields do not burn… burned areas stop at the green hayfield. All the farmers on this road, including us, keep the irrigation systems working through fires.
Since then, we have been through two more fires. We were on evacuation order twice. All the farmers here stay on the farm through evacuation orders, because by working together, we have a better chance to save our properties. Because we are such a small and remote area, we are not going to get a lot of effort to save our farms from fire crews. We are not California. So we stay, and our animals stay through evacuation orders. Children under 18 must leave, but we don’t have any of those. All you have to do is give the CO your name, your next of kin, and your dentist’s name. No problem, we can do that. We can get permission to leave and come back from our area for groceries while on order.
The main area around here to evacuate horses is a local city, about 90 minutes away, located in a “bowl”. Old exhibition grounds. In summer, the barns there are as “hot as hell”. Evacuated horses do not get “turned out”… they stay in those hot stalls until the evacuation order is over. Owners do not look after their own horses, there’s a crew there to do that. My horses have lived outdoors for the last 16 years… some have practically never been confined in a stall. Therefor, a high chance of health issues or possible death from the heat and stabling if “evacuated”.
At our farm, we have this creek that runs through the center of the property. Low land on either side, always damp down in this area. I’ve spent 16 years cleaning and clearing and slash burning in winter in these areas. This is where our horses go when we are on evacuation order due to a fire nearby.
WHEN fire comes through our valley, and it will, we and our horses will stay through it… this is our plan. Plans are made to be changed of course, but that’s the plan. We know that the high, dry sides of our valley WILL burn, and soon. But that is survivable. On each side of our valley are major powerlines, with all vegetation removed under them regularly. They run from a large power station just up the road from us. When there is a fire, these structures are WELL protected, and the lines themselves are a firebreak too. So we feel that we may lose some high perimeter fencing, maybe. But unlikely to come down to the valley floor where our house and barns are, closer to the creek. Our property has a number of springs on it, keeping a lot of it damp. Our house has a generator which is capable of running everything we need. We have an outdoor wood burning boiler, which heats the house and hot water. It is considered the “safest” method of heating in this area and the generator can run it’s power demands.
Last summer, local residents on our road (some are “without fire protection” from our local fire department -volunteer run) organized for the purpose of fire protection. “Fire Smart” runs this, and holds informational lectures. We joined last summer. The Fire Smart fella from our area came out to our farm to inspect our readiness for surviving a fire just last fall, and said that our efforts are some of the best he’s seen, and agreed that we are well prepared to save our house… and probably our barns as well, when this valley burns. The horses will be down in the low, damp pasture, with access to the creek. If the humans are forced to leave, this will be where they will stay. I keep the grazing fresh down there just in case it is needed.
We have also purchased just last summer, a fire fighting system… pump, hose and sprinkler. We still need to buy a tank for the water to be fully mobile with this rig. Our tractor will be able to transport this just about anywhere, on our property, or to a neighbour’s property if that is what is burning. We have unlimited water availability, with both the creek, and with our artesian well which flows out about 40 gallons per minute, through the lower pasture and into the creek. Even if we lose power, we can still access our water.
We run sprinklers 24/7 all summer all around the house. In a “semi arid” climate, our lawns are green. We have NO foundation planting around the house… just short mowed green lawn.
So yes, we think that we are pretty well prepared. The “Fire Smart” coordinator agreed. He said that our house is easily defendable, should it come to that. He said that some houses… if they know that they can not defend it, they WILL NOT try… because it’s a waste of their time. Lots of foundation planting of easily ignited plants is the worst. Garbage or wood piled up next the the house makes it unable to be defended too. Educate yourself on how to fire smart your property in advance of a fire nearby. This is your best chance to keep your property safe.
Good luck everyone. Get ready, because this is something that a lot of us are going to have to deal with. Think about it, in advance for your best chance to survive it.
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It is a good idea to have identifying photos of your horses, dogs, and cats. You may find that you cannot just stroll onto the fairgrounds sheltering barns and remove your horse without verifying that it is yours.
If not crated, leash your dogs before leaving the house. My SIL’s agility trainer was killed in the Santa Rosa fires because she could not catch her well-trained, super obedient dogs. They were too hyped up from the smoke. Her partner went ahead in their truck and she stayed behind. By the time she loaded them there was zero visibility and she went over an embankment.
For horses you may want to include a tube of Vick’s and some electrolytes.
Have written instructions to your barn posted in the tack room if you need to call FD or evac group. Always a good idea anyway if a panicking parent or kid needs to make such a call.
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I don’t recommend trying to do a “low cost” will. If you have assets and/or animals, get a good lawyer. My beloved trainer of over 25 years died suddenly last year, leaving few assets and a horse. We, her friends, did an on-line will, as she was in serious condition in hospital. She left what assets there were and her horse to a good friend, who intended to use the assets to care for the horse.
She was estranged from her family for years, but relatives crawled out of the woodwork to challenge the will. And I use the word “crawled” with intention.
Ended fairly well, relatives did have to be paid off with some of the assets, but thank goodness enough were left to care for the horse, give him a soft landing. We, our trainer’s friends, were so afraid the idiot relatives would try to take the horse thinking they could win the Kentucky Derby with a 13-year old OTTB.
Get a good lawyer, build a strong plan.
