FMG News
Who said cow sheds don't burn?
Most people have the misconception that cow sheds can't burn down, simply because they’re made of concrete. But in the case of a recent FMG claim, a suspected fault with the submersible pump led to water getting into the wiring system causing an electrical short.
This electrical short generated a spark which soon turned into a fire in the plant room destroying not only the plant room but also its contents. The fire also damaged the milking shed roof, cladding, skylights, rafters and wall lining. Luckily, the shed and contents were covered under FMG's RuralPak Farm Buildings and Farm Contents policy, and the customer also had Farming Interruption cover for the additional increased costs of keeping the farm operational.
This allowed FMG to repair the damage to the building, replace the lost contents and also pay for the cost of moving the cows to the next-door neighbour's shed. In this instance, the neighbour's shed wasn't operational so the Farming Interruption benefit also covered the cost of getting that up and running as quickly as possible.
How could this kind of loss be minimised or avoided?
- Fit your cow shed with a suitable fire extinguisher. The Fire Brigade can't always arrive at your farm in time, so having a fire extinguisher installed is the best chance to minimise the loss.
- Regularly check that the wiring in your shed is in good working order and away from any source of water - it's much better to avoid the risk altogether.
- If you're a sharemilker, ensure your contents are adequately insured - don't get caught short if the owners' shed burns down.
- Recycling an old plastic container and fitting it over the pump to stop water getting in is a simple way to avoid an electrical short.
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