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Electrical Fire Response

This page is about preparing, not about fighting fires. In an electrical fire the safest choice for most people is to get out, call 911 and let trained responders handle it. Planning ahead makes that choice easier.

What is the first priority?

People come first. Barns and equipment can be replaced, but injuries and deaths cannot. Fire and smoke can spread much faster than people expect, and smoke can disable a person before flames are visible. If there is a fire, get people out, call 911 and give the farm address clearly.

Do not go back in for animals, equipment or belongings. Tell responders what is inside, such as animals, fuel, chemicals, grain or batteries, so they can plan. Write the plan in plain words and keep it short enough that a teenager or a new hire can follow it without help.

Why are electrical fires different?

Electrical equipment may still be energized during a fire, which adds shock risk and can make some firefighting methods unsafe. Water used the wrong way on live equipment can carry current. Because of this, ordinary habits can be dangerous. Do not spray water on burning electrical equipment, and do not touch equipment, cords or metal that may be live.

Whether and how power can be shut off safely depends on the situation. If you know there is a safe disconnect that can be reached without danger, trained people may be able to use it, but never put yourself at risk to reach it. Responders and the utility will make that call.

What about extinguishers?

Extinguishers are for small fires, early, when you have a clear way out and have been trained. Types differ in what they are safe on, and using the wrong one can make things worse. Ask your local fire department or a recognized training provider which types suit your buildings and how to use them. This page does not give use instructions. Many fire departments offer hands-on practice.

If a fire is growing, filling the room with smoke or blocking your exit, leave immediately.

What should you plan before a fire?

Planning turns panic into a routine. Sit down with everyone who lives or works on the farm and make a plan. Practice it, and revise it when buildings or people change.

Keep this page's advice alongside your local fire department's guidance, since response times, water supply and equipment differ from one county to the next.

• Draw simple exit routes for each building
• Choose a meeting place away from buildings
• Post the farm address and emergency numbers by phones and at the road
• Know where each building's electrical disconnect is, and who may use it
• Keep driveways and gates clear for fire trucks
• Tell your fire department about fuel, chemicals, grain and batteries on site
• Plan how to keep children and visitors safe during an incident

How do you get help quickly?

Rural addresses can be hard to find. Make sure your address is posted clearly at the road, readable day and night. Keep a phone where you can reach it from every work area, and know where you have signal. When you call 911, stay on the line as the dispatcher directs.

Ask your fire department about access routes, water supply and the time it may take to arrive. Knowing this helps you set priorities.

What happens afterward?

Even after flames are out, fire sites can be dangerous. Walls and roofs may fall, electrical equipment may be damaged, and hot spots may reignite. Stay out until responders say it is safe. Do not restore power to a building that has had an electrical fire until a licensed electrician has inspected it.

Contact your insurer promptly, and ask the fire department about the cause investigation. Look after your own health and your family's. Fires are stressful, and support from friends, faith communities or a counselor is a normal need. If you or someone you know is in crisis, in the US you can call or text 988 or call 911 in an emergency.

How do you build skills?

Ask your fire department about farm fire safety visits and extinguisher training, and take first aid and CPR from the American Red Cross or a local provider. NFPA offers public education materials. Review the plan each season with the whole household and crew.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.