So glad that it made you think twice We were pulling a lot of power out there. So many pens with heated waterers. It was overloaded. We built breeding pens that day and blew three fuses while doing it.. after we unplugged all the heated dishes/heat lamps for the chicks. If power tools alone (a table saw, a radio, nail gun and corded drill) can blow that many fuses.. there was not enough support for the amount of energy we needed.I heard about those other barn fires also. I use a drop cord for my incubator and so paranoid about it now. My husband checked it with his multimeter yesterday to make sure it wasn't pulling to much.
No one use any type of extension cord with a heated lamp. That is an accident waiting to happen according to the fire marshall I spoke with.
Heat lamps alone are dangerous if they fall, but they are even more dangerous if using an extension cord because they don't have to fall to start a fire.
This is why I am insulating the new barn and heating with a mini split. Safe. And it will be heated just above freezing in the chicken part, and in one room up to 60 so I can run EcoGlows and my incubator.
Sorry for the bold and stuff above. I know some people skim, and if they can just see what I have to say and take it for what it's worth, I could save someone else from the horrifying reality of barn fires.