MyEquineNetwork Disaster Preparedness - Wildfire

With the recent wildfire devastation in Southern California, the reality of emergency situations has hit home with many horse owners. As a result, MyEquineNetwork.com has created a Wildfire Emergency Kit for you and your horse.

 

Everyday Management Tips:

Reduce fire hazards—

Store gasoline and other flammable materials away from occupied buildings

Keep hay, bedding, and any combustible materials away from occupied buildings

Clean roof surfaces and gutters regularly

Keep shrubs and trees pruned

Maintain a fuelbreak around all structures

Keep weeds knocked down in equipment storage areas

Have an emergency plan —

Identify at least two retreat routes from your property

Prepare an evacuation kit including: water bucket; extra lead rope and halter; sheet or blanket; wraps; equine first aid kit (consider the number of horses you own when developing this kit)

Make sure everyone that lives and/or works at your barn understands emergency procedure

 

When a Fire Comes Your Way:

Wear safe attire —

    Cotton fabrics are preferable to synthetics

    Wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt

    Leather gloves and leather slip-resistant shoes are the only safe kind; others will melt

    Cotton bandanas are good for shielding your face from smoke

     *Remember: you may want to condition your horse to this 

      appearance. The last thing you need during a fire emergency is a

      reason to scare your horse.

Use fire-safe gear on your horse —

    Avoid synthetic halters or lead ropes (nylon or plastic) and go for leather.

    Do not use nylon sheets, fly masks, or other synthetic equipment on your horse.

Be ready —

    Hook up your truck and trailer and position your vehicle in the direction of your primary escape route. Leave all doors unlocked and keys in the ignition. Pack your horse trailer/truck with as much feed/water as possible.

 

If You Don’t Get Out in Time:
The best temporary shelter will be where vegetation is sparse. Consider well-grazed pastures, open arenas, road cuts and banks, large boulders or rock outcroppings, and depressions in the ground.
Good places to go —   

    Vehicle: move the vehicle to bare or sparse ground, close all windows and doors, like on 
     the floor and cover yourself with a blanket or jacket. The fuel tank will almost never

     explode. Stay in the car until the fire passes.

    Road Cut: if caught without shelter on road, lie face down along the road cut or ditch on

     the uphill side (less fuel and less convection heat). Cover yourself with anything to shield

     the heat of the fire.