The CFFO is the latest group voicing it's concern about the number of barn fires in southern Ontario this winter.
Suzanne Armstrong is the Director of Research Manager of Board and Committee Services for the CFFO.
She says according to OMAFRA’s website, the cause of over 40% of barn fires remains undetermined because of the extent of the damage. But electrical or mechanical failure is the leading known cause.
"At our recent Niagara District meeting, Steve DeHaan, a farmer who also works for Meester Insurance, spoke about ways to mitigate the risk of barn fires," says Armstrong. "Because of the humid conditions in barns with contained livestock, electrical connections that are not sealed are at greater risk of corrosion. Corrosion causes extra resistance when electricity passes through, significantly increasing the heat generated. This can then ignite flammable materials in the vicinity. DeHaan used some photo illustrations from his own barn to show how corrosion of connections may be hidden under plastic covers that conceal the extent of damage beneath."
Armstrong says farmers who care for livestock day in and day out have more than just money invested, there are emotional losses as well.
"Although newer barns are built to standards that better address these issues, older barns, built to older code standards, may be at higher risk," says Armstrong. "This is particularly true for electrical connections. Although there is a cost to replacing or updating electrical equipment, these updates act as a further insurance against the risk of losing a barn and its contents, which would be a far greater cost."
