Jeez folks, it isn't that tough to walk a few hundred feet, throw a bale of hay in the wheelbarrow and bring to the barn.
It is not that hard for the huge reduction in insurance rates, peace of mind that if if the hay is a bit damp and goes up in flames, the harn won't go with it.
Leading causes of barn fires:
1. spontaneous combustion of damp/moldy hay
2. improper electrical wiring or wiring in ill repair
3. leaving appliances such as space heaters, etc. on
4. lightning strikes
5. storing combustible materials such as kerosene, gas, oils, etc. in barn
6. smoking cigarettes/cigars/pipes in the barn
7. improper maintenance of fans, blowers, motors, etc.
8. debris left in barn (papers, old straw/bedding, etc.)
9. human carelessness and storage of equipment (parking hot machinery on or near hay, bedding, combustibles).
10. human intent to burn - insurance related or revenge related fires.
here's a nice article regarding fire safety, prevention, etc. around the barn:
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801...43/d000843.pdf
Once a year I have my harn inspected for possible fire hazards - I have made improvements when an inspection reveals the need - such as installation of more smoke detectors, installing a "firewall" between house and barn, use of non combustible building materials whenever possible, removal of manure/bedding far away from building, keeping hay located away from main building in metal sheds with adequate ventilation, and installing fire extinguishers inside the house and inside the barn - both are checked by the local fire extinguisher company annually to make sure they are still viable.
Once a year I completely dust down the barn from top to bottom using a shop vac and have a friend who is electrically minded check exposed wiring to fans and huge circulator motor and fan for unsafe wiring. I replace the small box fans every other year regardless of whether they need it or not..dust gets in the motors and sometimes no amount of vacuuming will remove it. I installed a sprinkler system for the horses which is on a timer, next is to hook it up to a fire sensor.
There are things one can do to try to eliminate hazards. None of the stuff I do costs that much out of pocket, I probably have less than 1000. in the sprinkler system, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and fire wall. The other stuff is a matter of time investment. My hay shed did cost some bucks, around 3,000 but all work was done without a contractor - I used two teenage boys to help out. But having the shed has saved a lot of money in gas costs to fetch hay. It holds 600 bales which is plenty for me. I have an old shed next to it that will hold 100 bales (that is why I built the new shed).
I have a separate shed withventilation for all flammable stuff like gas, oils, and the like. If it burns, no harm done to any other building. Tractor, and other machinery is stored away from barn and away from hay sheds.
You can only do so much to try to eliminate hazards. I have known people who live in the most awful, rundown shacks and are walking hazards themselves - never have a problem. I guess the good Lord is looking out for them. I have also known state of the art homes go up in flames or be totally destroyed by tornados.
Build what makes you happy, I did - sounds like CN did as well.
