Heat Lamp Fire

[Doug in Colorado]

Please forgive me for bring this up again. We are all aware that the heat lamps are a fire hazard, however this needs to be reenforced.

About 2 weeks ago a home here in Colorado Springs was burned and now uninhabitable. I drive past this house every day coming home from work.

Yesterday, the local news announced that the cause of the fire was a chicken brooder heat lamp that fell into the straw and started a fire.
The tragedy only is compounded by the fact that the coop was the neighbors along the wooden fence and the fire spread to the house next door. Today as I drove by I could see that there was indeed the charred remnants of a coop and the burned out wooden fence.

Please everyone, don't let this tragedy go without learning from the results. Yes, the heat plate is more costly; how much is your house worth? Had this fire started at 2am, would there have been lives lost?

Please think about this and be very careful.

Doug in Colorado Springs

 

[N Sully]

Good reminder. Thank you

 

[Kiki]

Thanks for sharing. Great reminder.

 

[blackdog043]

Thanks for sharing. If anyone MUST use a heat lamp, please make sure it's secured 2 or even 3 different ways, to help prevent this from happening.

Personally I recommend the mama heat pad. Here's a link for anyone who would like to check it out. It's a much safer option and the chicks will get used to day and night, which helps when you transfer them to the coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-heavy-update.956958/page-1067#post-19744166

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Good reminder. The darn things sure do get hot.

At the risk of being politically incorrect I just have to say this.

Why is it that I, and many others, look at a typical brooder lamp set up and see that the clamp is just an accident waiting to happen? 4 dollars at the hardware store got me some chain and quick links. Easy. I'm not a rocket scientist, average human.

So why do others go "oh nice clamp that's handy" then clip it onto the most rickety and/ or flammable item in their house or barn, suspended over fabulous kindling?

Something very Darwinian going on here. Just saying.

 

[BYCforlife]

A very humbling reminder. Thanks for telling us. I haven't turned my heat lamp on yet, but That is my worst nightmare. I spent a good amount on my brooder so it has a very safe way to suspend the lamp.

I wonder if their heat lamp had a guard on it? My heat lamp has a huge guard, so it can't get closer than about 8 inches from the floor. It's still pretty close, but I think it would be good enough until someone came to check. We always have someone home when we have day olds.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Good reminder. The darn things sure do get hot.

At the risk of being politically incorrect I just have to say this.

Why is it that I, and many others, look at a typical brooder lamp set up and see that the clamp is just an accident waiting to happen? 4 dollars at the hardware store got me some chain and quick links. Easy. I'm not a rocket scientist, average human.

So why do others go "oh nice clamp that's handy" then clip it onto the most rickety and/ or flammable item in their house or barn, suspended over fabulous kindling?

Something very Darwinian going on here. Just saying.

While I don't disagree, I venture to guess for the same reason people look at what seasoned poultry folks easily recognize as entirely undesirable housing for poultry - those awful prefab setups- and think, "oh. perfect....and it says I can put 10 chickens in there".... the products are presented as being suitable as is and many consumers assume that means they are safe, right, suitable

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Mine have fairly ineffective seeming guards but I added hardware cloth to the one that bigger birds had access to.

 

[ashlandco]

Oh wow. Yes, good reminder. After just having a neighborhood fire, this is really helpful. Although, my friend stopped using a heating pad because it was burning the chicks backs..?

 

[blackdog043]

My heat lamp has a huge guard, so it can't get closer than about 8 inches from the floor.

Turn it on and put your hand against the guard, let us know how hot it gets and how long you keep your hand there.