Barn fire prevention and disaster management in the agricultural sector

It is estimated that at least 740,000 farm animals were killed in barn fires between 2015 and 2019 in Canada (Humane Society International, 2020). In the United States, the figure is at least 3 million between 2018 and 2021 (Animal Welfare Institute, 2021). Each of these deaths is significant. Farm animals are sentient beings with psychological and biological needs. In 2016, this was explicitly recognized in the Quebec Civil Code. Nevertheless, unlike the regulations governing animal transport and slaughter, there are few binding requirements to minimize animal suffering on the farm. This is significant because beyond barn fires caused by electrical malfunctions, farms face new risks as the climate crisis and extreme weather events worsen. In recent years, millions of animals have perished in natural disasters, including 650,000 livestock in British Columbia during flooding in 2021. From both an animal welfare and an economic perspective, more needs to be done to ensure that animals receive the care they need in emergency situations. With this project, we aim to 1) raise awareness of the problem of barn fires among the general public and political decision-makers, and 2) propose solutions to close regulatory loopholes.

To learn more about barn fire prevention and the law, you can read my article published in the Manitoba Law Journal here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4579365. I am also working on a documentary with Jurivision, which is expected to launch in early 2025.