Evacuation plans with wild fires- do you have one?

[Squeak]

Where would the law sit on overloading the 3.5t horseboxes so that they can evacuate two horses rather than one? I assume it would still be illegal but I'd find it very hard to leave an empty space on a horsebox and horses needing transport. If you were moving the horses a couple of miles you'd probably get away with it but potentially you could have to travel them further than that.

 

[Widgeon]

Where would the law sit on overloading the 3.5t horseboxes so that they can evacuate two horses rather than one? I assume it would still be illegal but I'd find it very hard to leave an empty space on a horsebox and horses needing transport. If you were moving the horses a couple of miles you'd probably get away with it but potentially you could have to travel them further than that.

Surely it would still be illegal but if you were literally fleeing a burning area I really can't imagine that any police officers would stop you to check on the payload of the box. I wouldn't want to consider overloading for anything more than the absolute minimum distance to safety though, and surely the point of a proper evacuation plan is to ensure that you have enough legal capacity to safely move all horses? Illegal overloading would ideally only be in the event of a completely unexpected disaster for which you were unprepared, which shouldn't happen if there's a proper plan in place.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d overload my 3.5 in a heartbeat to save horses from fire. I wouldn’t think twice, in fact I probably wouldn’t even think once and just do it.

 

[Lois Lame]

And that would be the worry. It's far too dangerous a time to be doing it then.

 

[Squeak]

Surely it would still be illegal but if you were literally fleeing a burning area I really can't imagine that any police officers would stop you to check on the payload of the box. I wouldn't want to consider overloading for anything more than the absolute minimum distance to safety though, and surely the point of a proper evacuation plan is to ensure that you have enough legal capacity to safely move all horses? Illegal overloading would ideally only be in the event of a completely unexpected disaster for which you were unprepared, which shouldn't happen if there's a proper plan in place.

I have enough room for my horses but I know my neighbours wouldn't. I reckon there would be quite a few multiple horse owners who wouldn't have a horsebox with enough space for all of them and even if they plan to get a transporter asap, there wouldn't be a guarantee they'd get there. Hopefully it's a decision I will never need to make and if so it would just be a minimum distance.

 

[DonskiWA]

As tempting as it may be, please don’t open any external property gates to let your horses out onto roads. Only open all your internal gates. There will be fleeing panicked people in cars, emergency service people trying to get places in a hurry and the sky will be smoky and dark. The last thing anyone needs is to collide with loose, panicked horses out on roads.

 

[Gamebird]

As tempting as it may be, please don’t open any external property gates to let your horses out onto roads. Only open all your internal gates. There will be fleeing panicked people in cars, emergency service people trying to get places in a hurry and the sky will be smoky and dark. The last thing anyone needs is to collide with loose, panicked horses out on roads.

Absolutely. I always cover this when I check fire plans. Horses removed from buildings MUST be confined. In fact I'd go further and say the opposite to you. Do not rely on your external gate being closed - people will be coming and going, and you cannot expect fire crews to stop and close your external gate - in fact you should leave it open to speed their arrival. They should also not be working in an area with loose horses. Instead make sure all evacuated horses are removed to a field or outdoor school, or anywhere that a gate can be shut so that they are contained. So internal gates closed, external gates open.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

This might be a bit of a dim question, but why specifically are combines going up?
I can see a mechanical fault in a baler would so that makes perfect sense.

 

[twofatladies88]

This is what I’ve been thinking. Can’t be because of the heat as OH reminded me that Africa and Brazil use combines and they cope in the heat. Spoke to my hay merchant yesterday and he’s adamant it’s lack of maintenance!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

This might be a bit of a dim question, but why specifically are combines going up?
I can see a mechanical fault in a baler would so that makes perfect sense.

Build up of dust in incredible heat, a spark from a flint can ignite it.
Those using airlines to clear dust on regular basis are very sensible.

 

[milliepops]

Build up of dust in incredible heat, a spark from a flint can ignite it.
Those using airlines to clear dust on regular basis are very sensible.

yup. Friend had a lorry go up recently after transporting a straw load, just a bit of dust in the wrong place. they use their air lines regularly but this was just the return trip from delivering

 

[Aussieventer]

I live and have horses in a high risk fire area in AUS. Thankfully my area hasn’t had a MAJOR bushfire for about 20 years, but it will happen again so being prepared is imperative. On high risk fire days we have the floats hooked up facing the exit gate ready to go at the first sign. Luckily we have a pretty good fire alert app here that notifies of fires in the local pre-selected radius. We have a always packed ‘go box’ with passports, insurance docs, birth certificates and essential paperwork that is easily grabbed off a shelf and on high risk days is packed in the car in advance. In summer the land is kept clear of sticks,leaves garden waste etc and all grass kept short. In the event of not being able to get the horses out all internal fences opened and electric switched off (if it hasn’t cut out itself). External fences to remain closed as galloping horses on the road is no help to fireys and our land is fairly clear with a large dam. No rugs or fly masks left on horses. We have generators and fire pumps which we have permanently in position in summer. The priority though is animals and humans out to the local Showgrounds. If it is just a waste of time then super. Better than a waste of life.

 

[Gamebird]

This might be a bit of a dim question, but why specifically are combines going up?
I can see a mechanical fault in a baler would so that makes perfect sense.

Electrical faults too - mice chewing cables! (happened to my husband). Lack of grease causing overheating. I think the last combine we had had something like 140 grease nipples, so it was easy to miss one.

 

[maya2008]

As an aside to this, our local farmers have been very careful with the combining. After a few fires a couple of summers ago, they have started doing all the combining at night, taking advantage of the lower temperatures and clearer roads to transport grain and straw.

 

[milliepops]

guess they have to be careful about a dew coming then too. so complicated!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Farmers hereabouts (and likely elsewhere) have had water bowsers and tractors with ploughs standing by (to create firebreaks) when combining to start dealing with any combine fire as soon as it starts.

 

[GSD Woman]

I hope it's enough.