Ontario had 146 barn fires in 2018

By Connor Lynch
Ontario’s barn fires just keep getting costlier.

In 2018, Ontario saw 146 barn fires cause a staggering $53 million in losses, according to the most recent statistics from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.

On average, each barn fire cost $363,000. Though there were 145 barn fires in Ontario in 2017, their dollar value was substantially less, costing $36 million or about $248,000 per barn fire.

Since the high of 186 barn fires back in 2011, Ontario’s had a range of 130 to 160 barn fires per year, with a low of 136 barn fires in 2012.

Of 2018’s 146 barn fires, 80 were in barns that contained equipment or produce and 66 were in livestock barns. The livestock barn fires were costlier at about $27 million in total damage, or $409,000 per barn. Equipment barns totaled $25 million, or about $312,000 per barn.

The causes of many barn fires remain elusive. In 2018, 43 per cent of barn fires had an undetermined cause. Of the known causes, mechanical or electrical failure was the most common at about 25 per cent. About four per cent of fires were caused by arson. That’s about seven fires.

Fatalities are extremely rare in barn fires: There were none in 2018 but there was one in 2017. Injuries are more common: There were five in 2018, eight in 2017 and eight in 2016.