Drought + Barn Fire Safety Best Practices
Florida & the USA (April 28, 2025) - Florida and much of the United States is currently experiencing one of its most severe drought periods on record. With the vivid scenes of the Los Angeles wildfires and their resulting evacuations still fresh, taking a few minutes to review fire safety preparation in the barn can save lives and property in the event of an incident. With Florida in a particularly severe conditions, approximately 14 million Florida residents are living in drought-affected areas including many private and public equestrian facilities.
Current Risk Factors:
• Severe drought conditions in many areas of the southeast and southwest
• Increased lightning activity, especially in Florida
• Dry vegetation near barns
• Less humidity in the air
• Increased winds
• High volumes of stored materials: hay, shavings, dust, grain in wooden structures
• Fans running as the weather warms
• Extended emergency response times in rural areas
Quick Action Steps:
1. Clear dry vegetation within 30 feet of your barn to prevent external fires from catching structures
2. Check all electrical systems and wires for damage, fraying, dust accumulation
3. Store shavings, hay, blankets in separate storage areas equipped with fire safety items (hay thermometer, mini extinguishers, etc) and monitor hay temperature. Temps between 150 and 180 are concerning, anything above call the fire department
4. Ban smoking (always), bonfires, vegetation burns and other high risk activities during drought period
5. Check that your fire extinguishers and Rescue Kit are prominently displayed, and that the extinguishers are in good working order. The Rescue Kits are protected from the elements and all of its contents are ready to go at a moments notice
6. Regularly clean dust, hay, and shavings from aisleways, fans, and storage areas
7. Have an evacuation plan ready! The first step will always be calling the fire department (911). Prepare a rough plan of how to execute equine evacuations, including which horses may require FireHorse Blindfolds to get them out of the barn or keep them from trying to run back to their stalls, how to secure them once they are out (FireHorse tie line, paddocks), where you will secure water and other necessary items after the fire, and if you have the option to trailer to a different facility in the event of a total loss.
How to Bridge the Critical Gap:
FireHorse Rescue Kits are designed to maximize those vital minutes between first spark and fire department arrival. Our kits include:
• Put advanced tools for barn fire safety and horse evacuation in the hands of riders, barn owners, horse owners, grooms, and managers
• Patent-pending equine blindfolds (prevents horses from refusing to leave or running back into burning barns)
• Spray can fire extinguishers for easy, immediate response
• Professional-grade evacuation tools
• Equipment that helps first responders safely handle horses
• and much more
FireHorse Rescue Kit - the latest in barn fire safety innovations
The aftermath of Eye Candy Jumper's Minnesota barn fire
FireHorse Rescue Kits have been installed at Eye Candy's Wellington and Minnesota facilities
FireHorse's patent pending Equine Blindfold wears like a fly mask and restricts vision up to 80% to reduce panic and prevent horses from returning to burning structures
Barn Fire Statistics
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 20,000 barn and farm structure fires occur annually in the United States, with total damages often exceeding $100 million.
According to the USDA, barn fire incidents in drought-prone counties have increased by over 20% between 2010 and 2020. As climate variability worsens, fire-prone weather is expected to affect more than 50% of U.S. cropland by 2035.
Florida rancher Dana Alvarez, who lost a barn and seven horses in a 2024 blaze, shared: “It happened in seconds. The hay was so dry, and by the time help came, there was nothing to save. We’re now rebuilding with added protections—it’s more expensive, but peace of mind is priceless.”
FireHorse Innovation - Patented Products & Equestrian Fire Safety
FireHorse Rescue Kits, LLC was founded by career firefighters and lifelong equestrians seeking to bridge the gap between daily barn life and fire safety. Every kit contains a selection of items to be used in a fire or other emergency, and the 100% made-in-the-USA case contains custom foam to protect and prevent damage. Designed to be hung in the main barn breeze way, FireHorse Rescue Kits are an easy way to ensure that every equestrian in the barn is prepared for a potentially dangerous situation.
One of the kit's integral components are patent pending equine blindfolds, developed specifically for use in emergency situations. These horse blindfolds wear like a fly mask and restrict the horse’s vision up to 80%. During fire panic, horses have been known to refuse to leave their stalls or to return to a burning structure seeking safety. FireHorse's blindfolds are intended to allow equestrians or first responders to remove animals safely and intended to reduce injury and panic by removing visual stimulation. They are additionally useful for trailering, for horses sensitive to needles, and to reduce panic when waking up from anesthesia. Each kit also includes two handheld, point & spray canned extinguishers. These are easy to use for any one, from children to senior citizens, and perfect for small fires, especially hay, shavings, or feed room flames. An excellent alternative to more cumbersome, full sized extinguishers, these also require less maintenance and are readily available in the case. During fires, the heat can melt or make latches, door knobs, locks, and other metal items impossible to handle or touch. Heat resistant to 1472 degrees and flame retardant, the gloves in every FireHorse Rescue Kit are made of a mix of breathable cotton knitting and double layered fiber with silicone for grip and fire resistance.
These are just a few of the innovative items found in each Rescue Kit. For a full list, visit www.FireHorseRescue.com/whatsinside
FireHorse Rescue Kits can also be found protecting horses, humans, animals, and property at Wellington International, TerraNova Equestrian Center, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and private barns across the United States.
For more information on FireHorse Rescue Kits, visit www.FireHorseRescue.com
Follow FireHorse on Facebook and Instagram @firehorserescuekits
Media Contact:
Holly Johnson
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
www.Equinium.com
holly@equinium.com
+ 1 954 205 7992
