Fire

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bigyetiman

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Sitting quietly at home about 4pm suddenly we can smell smoke faintly, then boy could we smell smoke ran outside as OH phone rang which was Jean a couple of 100 yards down lane asking if we could smell smoke, looked to the left across the field to see the stables alight, phoned fire brigade OH ran down lane as we weren't sure if anyone was there at the time, luckily gate was unlocked and the three stable girls were still there just standing there going "all we did was lit a fire to get rid of some rubbish and next minute the manure heap and shed had gone up", at which point a large explosion revealed that the shed (locked) had gas canisters in it. Got the horses out and up the farm track which they hadn't thought to do
Luckily fire brigade sent two appliances straight off, then another six, 4 hours later it is under control. Lane closed for mo and the our gardens and houses are covered in thick acrid smoke, hens definitely not happy although the coop is ok and not smelly.
The stable owner turned up and immediately starts berating the fire brigade for axing his shed door open as it was a very expensive metal one !!!
OH and the neighbouring farmer up the track didn't even get a thank you for getting his livestock to safety.
Just shows how quickly a small fire turns into a raging inferno in this weather.
 
How fortunate that you were at home and could deal with it! Anyone who lights a fire in the current conditions should be prosecuted for arson. There's absolutely no excuse as there has been so much publicity about the risks. Sadly the stable owner's reaction is typical - could be generous and put it down to shock ...

Must be very unpleasant for you too - if I was in that situation I'd have to get out until the smell had gone. Being asthmatic, even the smoke from someone's garden bonfire lingering in the house if I don't get windows shut in time can cause problems.
 
Gosh that could have been a different outcome, had you not smelled the smoke and acted so quickly. I agree with Margaid about arson. I pity the horses...they must have been terrified with those explosive gas cannisters.
Can you imagine the cost to the fire brigade for this? And the owner was more interested in his shed..... shame on him. I hope he gets billed for it.
 
I'll be generous, and say maybe in the heat (badoom tsh!) of the moment, he just didn't realise the seriousness of the situation? But, yes, I agree with Margaid about the stupidity of lighting a fire. Over here, you aren't allowed to burn stuff outside at all, drought or not. No garden bonfires.
 
The owner said he had told the girls there not to light fires and he has dismissed them ( knowing what he is like he probably told them to light it) and the police have turned up there this morning and a senior fire officer so we shall see what happens. The fire brigade were brilliant as well as dealing with the fire they started hosing down the hedge in case the fire hit that and started on the wheat field, luckily the Barn Owls fledged out of the oak a few days ago, not sure how they would have coped with the acrid black smoke right next to them.
Luckily the smoke was blowing away from the stable entrance and we got the horses that were in the stables out without them smelling the smoke at the time otherwise it might have been different.
Someone down the other end of the lane rang Jean a neighbouring farmer to say had she heard that the farmer who owned the wheat field had found 3 people trespassing on his land and he had shot them dead and thats why police had closed the road. Called on OH no doubt to bury the evidence and get rid of gun !!
An appliance was on standby all night just in case it flared up.
 
:shock:

Its all happening where you live BYM! Thank goodness you were there, and also that you were able to behave calmly, I do know how common sense can fly out of the window in a fire situation; its all too easy for panic to set in. Those girls will learn a lesson, fire can get out of control in an instant, just like the sea. I hope the farmer calms down and then apologises/thanks you all. Where livestock is concerned we humans have the total duty of care, and I'm not surprised he sacked the stable staff, even if he can be a bit nasty. But it doesn't bear thinking about, what might have happened, I hope you and MrsBYM don't have any delayed shock and well done on acting so promptly and so helpfully. We had our own fire alert from the next hamlet along from us on Thursday, which turned out to be a false alarm, and OH rushed to inform our neighbours, whilst I rushed to pack our emergency bags. I put food/clothing/medicines/paperwork/food/drink/valuables together. After the helicopter, the police and the fire brigade failed to locate a fire (it turned out to be over-zealous strimming at 7am to avoid the heat, but we think it created a dust storm which was mistaken for smoke), I checked the emergency suitcase to discover that I had put in underwear, socks (? in this heat), a jumper for shock and toiletries, but neglected to pack any Tshirts or other tops, which is what you'd need in 40 plus temeratures. So, common sense, out the window!

Fires are banned here from April to October, roughly. We don't even use a proper barbecue in the summer, just a gas one.
 
Yes, well done, BYM and OH, both of you. I cannot understand how two adults employed as stable girls couldn't have had getting the horses out as their first thoughts. I wonder who is looking after the horses now, and what facilities there are for them. The Chinese Whispers story about the rod closure is amazing - your very own fake news.
 
OMG BYM, isn't it wonderful how quickly rumours start! The Fire Officer will want to be sure about how the fire started but I suspect they are all more interested in the storage of the gas cylinders. I believe that such buildings have to be clearly marked so that the fire brigade can see that there is a risk of explosion. At least they used common sense about preventing the hedge and then the wheat field catching fire, and good that they were able to spare an appliance overnight.

I hadn't thought about the horses and smoke but you're right that it could have been a totally different problem. I wouldn't want to try and coax a terrified horse out of its' stable! Whoever decided the fire should be lit, let's hope they've learned their lesson ...
 
OH has never actually handled horses, I have as my daughter had one when younger, but she just went down there grabbed their bridles and talked to them the same as she does our neighbours cattle, sheep and our hens and walked them round the bend into a neighbours field. The owners of the horses came and collected them and another stables nearby has taken them in, I suspect quite a few owners will be removing horses from there. The land and stable are rented out by a local farmer it transpires. Haven't heard his views yet.
That was what amazed OH the girls just stood there and said "we have called the fire brigade and told them horses are on site" her first thought was get livestock out of harms way which included the Jack Russell.
Someone who lives way down the lane seems to be able to appear at any given "happening" and tries to order everyone about OH calls him "the Kamp Kommandant", his first words "have you called the fire brigade, I think the situation warrants it, right now what needs doing is organisation" OH replied "well you need to move before a horse steps on you, and if you want to be useful go and stand in the lane and wave the fire brigade down ( the track way is easy to go past)" or grab a bridle and reins and walk this way" He declined both offers as he wanted "to do something important". I think I heard OH mutter "go and pee on it then"
When he moved in, he wanted the council to put a footpath and streetlights up as the lane was dangerous and dark.
We were both ok afterwards as we had the hilarity of the mass shooting rumour, just a bit miffed that we didn't shut windows or doors before we ran out to help. Still rather a smoky house than a dead horse.
Fires and BBQs were banned by by our council a month ago. We have even been taking stuff from hen house to the local tip rather than have it tinder dry sitting somewhere
 
:lol: :lol: :lol: Love it! Can just imagine your OH telling bossy boots to go and pee on it! :-)08
 
Very similar!
OH was lucky that the horses had some kind of tack on - were they bridled up ready for a ride, or just in headcollars? Finding tack and getting it on to them would have been difficult, I expect. how many were there?
 
There were 6 in the stable block, 3 had their head collars still on, rest needed putting on which a 12 yer old child with one of the adults did, she seemed perfectly capable in a crisis. Plus 3 donkeys, one with head piece on and the other 2 just trotted on behind luckily. Wanted to keep those, donkeys are lovely. Rest of horses were out in a field.
one thing we found out the nicely marked fire hydrant opposite by the hedge doesn't actually have a hydrant, lifted the lid, empty void. Luckily another one was short way down the road.
People driving down the lane had to turn back as a fire engine was in road, completely blocking it plus pipes snaking everywhere, we opened our gates so people could reverse in and turn back, you would have thought it was the end of the world, one girl said " I am going to a wedding reception, I need to go down here to get up another lane, you can't make me turn back, this is a disaster"
Yesterday evening on the corner of the lane a lorry thought he would take a short cut, and took down the telegraph pole, so the lane was shut again
 
One heck of a job then getting them all out safely. Good job there was another hydrant nearby ...

I really struggle to get my head round people's thinking!! It's on a par with people abusing ambulance staff because the road is blocked. What do they expect will happen - that emergency vehicles will pack up all their stuff and move out of the way? Obviously they do! :-)07 :-)07

I bet the boot would be on the other foot if the emergency affected them - they'd probably be screaming at the firemen to get the fire put out NOW!
 
I love donkeys, and they are often kept with horses to calm them down, a bit like sheep. But I know they also possess strongly biting teeth, so I am also slightly wary of them! Well done all round, horses are nervous creatures at heart, with a powerful sense of smell, and lets face it smoke, fire, and exploding gas canisters would be enough to test the calmness of anybody, so all kudos to your OH.
 
Agree MrsBiscuit. Miniature donkeys are wonderful but a bit out of my price range. I had a fantasy of breeding mini hinnies but maybe in my next life!
People's inability to see the big picture is worrying. bigyetimans stories from the bus spring to mind.
 
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