UMATILLA, ORE.- Several fires in Umatilla County in the last week have been caused by heat lamps in livestock enclosures.
Umatilla County Fire District 1 has provided safety tips on how to keep your animals safe with a heat lamp.
Use quality heat lamps. Lamps should be enclosed with a guard and only lamps marked for outdoor use should be used outdoors.Check your bulbs. Ensure you are using high quality bulbs under 250 watts. Low-quality bulbs can shatter with thin glass.Use heat lamp chains to secure the lamp to a panel.Keep the lamp away from livestock and the ground by at least 20 feet.Keep the lamp high enough to avoid adult livestock bumping into the fixture.Use an Arc Fault Interrupter breaker to protect against sparks.Keep a fire extinguisher close to the barn for emergencies.Have a smoke detector that is loud enough to be heard from the house.Keep heat lamps away from flammable surfaces.
