The fires that have destroyed so much in Australia remind me that no one is immune to fire. If you have horses you usually have barns and hay and bedding … all of which are great tender for flames.

Take a moment to think about your own fire preparedness. Do you have a fire extinguisher at your barn? Preferably one at each end of the barn? Do you have lead ropes and halters at the ends of barn aisles or at least on stall doors? Have you ever thought about, much less practices, a fire drill in your barn? This is especially important if you operate a boarding facility. Have you personally contacted the local fire department so they are familiar with your operation, or even invited them out to give you tips on how to make your property more fire-safe?

A presentation was given at the recent American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention on barn fires entitled "AAEP 2008: Strategies to Prevent and Respond to Barn Fires." There are other articles about Emergencies/Emergency Care and Disaster Management on TheHorse.com