Barns are thought of as safe havens of nostalgia and refuge for animals and humans alike where we can join nature and a simpler time in harmony.
Many of us who grew up in rural America likely have a fond ‘heyday’ memory of those long-forgotten moments when adulthood had yet to distort our idyllic perception of reality.
Unfortunately, tragedy can strike anywhere, regardless of the sentimental attachment we have sewed and ingrained within these rustic structures. Just this past weekend, 19 horses were killed in an early morning barn fire in Bartow County, Georgia.
Fires involving animals and livestock are particularly tragic because, unlike humans, the helpless creatures had no way of escaping the blaze and were left to perish in agony. We can only fathom what these final moments were like for these shelter deprived, bewildered animals. Authorities believe the fire started near some wood chips that were used for the horses’ bedding.
Steel ridgeline barn could’ve prevent deaths
While we have no doubt that their best intentions were at heart, this tragedy could’ve been avoided if the horses’ owners had used a more suitable building material.
“Most of the interior in the building and all the stalls were wood construction, so the wind the wind pushed through pushed rapidly to the front of the building,” Bartow Fire Marshall, Gary Garland said.
Only one horse, a caretaker and a dog escaped the fire, which has likely forever seared a memory in the minds of everyone in this quaint, rural community.
“They were show horses so I suspect they were costly, but emotionally it was worse I would think,” Garland said.
When it comes to metal vs wood, Elephant Barns offer superior steel protection
These enigmatic creatures were more than just show ponies; they were members of a family, which now must carry the burden of sorrow for years to come. Never again will their surviving relatives experience the unequaled joy of brushing their mane beneath the wooden beams or nuzzling with them next to an apple tree on a crisp, fall day.
While hindsight will do nothing to bring back these equine beauties, their fellow horse owners can take this tale as a cautionary one: wood is inferior to metal as a building material. Had these owners used a more fire-resistant material, these horses could very well still be alive. In the face of great loss and tragedy, we hate to be so blunt and direct, but a metal barn could’ve save these horses’ lives.
Fortunately, Elephant Barns offers a line of steel metal fire that are nearly impervious to the destructive power of fire. Our metal barns, which come in distinct styling depending on your level of desired protection – can withstand wind gusts that exceed 130 miles per hour and more than two feet of snow! From blizzards and theft and to hurricanes and fires – our metal barns prove why metal is superior to its wooden counterparts.
Metal barns are simply superior to dated, wooden designs. Most wooden barns were not designed by professional engineers, such as the ones employed at Elephant Barns. Using industry proven methods, our talented designers can engineer wide-open spaces and easily-accessible doors that make it that much easier for both animals and humans alike to escape.
