Most of the western United States is what’s called a “fire adaptive ecosystem.” That means it’s not a matter of if a major fire is going to happen to the landscape, it’s when. Most of us horse owners live in rural areas so it’s often up to us to figure out how to prepare for wildfire emergencies. An essential component of that preparation is creating an evacuation plan before wildfire threatens your home and animals.

Every situation differs according to the size and nature of the horse enterprise; there is no “one size fits all” approach. However, there are some general rules of thumb that can help you organize a firewise evacuation plan that’s suited to your unique circumstances.

• In an emergency, defer to local authorities. The county sheriff is always in charge of evacuations. If possible, listen to local radio stations or contact 911 for instructions.
• Decide in advance which horses you will evacuate and make sure they are all suitably trained for transport. If you do not have enough trailer space for all of your horses, talk to friends ahead of time to see if someone might be available to help in an emergency.
• During a fire situation, remove all synthetics such as nylon halters, blankets, sheets, and fly masks. People often mistakenly think these materials will protect horses from windblown sparks when, in fact, embers can melt these materials and cause more severe burns. Instead, use cotton or leather halters and leads, avoiding metal connectors and buckles, which can get hot if exposed to heat.
• Determine where you will take your horses should a fire arise. Options might include a friend’s horse property, a regional stockyard or livestock sales yard, county fairgrounds, show facilities, a racetrack, or even a large park. Verify plans ahead of time with any applicable property owners and map out alternate routes to your destination in case of road closures.
• When evacuation is not possible, place horses in a pre-determined “firesafe area” on your property. A firesafe area should be as large as possible, devoid of flammable vegetation, and surrounded by fire-proof metal fencing. A firesafe area could be a large sand arena (no wood footing or fencing which can ignite and burn), a large dry lot turnout, or an overgrazed field or pasture. If time permits, put water and feed in the center in non-flammable metal containers.
• If you must leave horses behind and time permits, consider identifying your horses with your cell phone number on a front hoof with indelible magic marker or on a hip with a grease marker (the type used for cattle sales or endurance rides).
• Finally, never, ever turn horses loose. This essential rule is often broken by horse owners. In almost every large-scale wildfire, officials deal with loose horses on roadways blocking both traffic and emergency personnel who are trying to manage the fire. Loose horses become an additional liability, especially if they cause an accident or get injured, and only exacerbate the crisis.

Wildfires can quickly escalate and become a real threat to rural landowners. When horses are involved, action must be taken quickly to save lives (human and animal) and reduce property damage. It’s easy to think wildfire only happens to other people, but that kind of thinking can lead to tragic consequences. Being proactive will always be the safest plan.

For more information on fire preparedness, check out our free firewise resources.