From Paper to Practice: A Working Fire Plan
Our resources are designed to compliment your fire risk assessment that is a legal requirement for all equine establishments, stables, livery yards and other animal establishments and for all employers, proprietors, managers, occupiers and owners.
The guidance document on the UK Government website tells you what you have to do to comply with fire safety law, helps you carry out a fire risk assessment and identify the general fire precautions you need to have in place.
Here is a link to the document: Fire Risk Assessment Animal Premises and Stables
Our film and associated documents takes viewers from “paper to practice” by walking through a comprehensive fire plan review and on-site training exercise, that we piloted at The Horse Trust and was led by BARTA’s co-founder and career firefighter, Jim Green. The simulation covers:
- Human safety: including alarm response, checking the fire panel, evacuation roles, assembly point accounting, and effective communication with fire services.
- Animal safety: involving pre-planned decisions to evacuate or shelter horses, appropriate PPE, and use of trained staff to lead horses to a designated safe refuge.
- Operational effectiveness: covering fire service access, pre-visits by local crews, water supply access, incident briefings, and information-sharing.
Jim said: “Too often, fire risk assessments are seen as tick-box exercises left to gather dust. But a living, breathing fire plan – understood and owned by every team member – can make the difference between tragedy and success. This film aims to give equestrian yards across the UK, confidence in understanding and accessing the tools they need to create and practice a workable plan, tailored to their own risks and resources.”
The following resources will help your team to evaluate the options available to them in preparing a working fire plan based on the outcomes of your risk assessment and knowledge of the site and its operation.
Start by using the downloadable forms below to evaluate the 3 key areas of human safety, equine safety and operational effectiveness. Then utilise the essential findings from this exercise to help form your operational plan.
If you have a complex site, or one with multiple animals it’s good practice to invite your local fire crew to visit, to familiarise themselves with your operations and emergency plan. Each county fire and rescue service will be contactable through their website.
For more information or if you would like to receive some facilitated training to help you develop your plan, please contact us at: [email protected]
Information to Inform Your Fire Plan
Fire Evacuation Planning – Human Safety
Fire Evacuation Planning – Animal Safety
Fire Evacuation Planning – Operational Effectiveness
