Ask whether stables meet building codes

We all have read with sadness of the terrible horse stable fire at Black Tie Stable in McHenry County last week. Eighteen beautiful, well-trained and loved horses destroyed in a matter of minutes from an unknown cause. The news articles cause the reader to ask what could have been done to save more horses. I believe by now the horse owners have thought of several ways the fire started and spread so quickly.

A significant part of the analysis should deal with the fact that horse stables and show horse arenas in the northeast corner of Illinois have rarely complied with building and fire codes. These stables are considered by state law to be agricultural and therefore exempt from building codes.

While local governments have tried for decades to get the state to consider hobby and commercial stables and arenas as needing inspections, there has been strong and successful pressure from the horse industry to avoid complying with even the most basic building and fire codes applicable to their buildings.

Could the destruction from the fire have been lessened if the building had met codes? First, you should ask if the stable had been inspected and complied with codes? If it did not, then it is nationally recognized that meeting building and fire codes will reduce fire damage. Many other states already require such code compliance.

Do the horse owners know if their stable and arenas have been inspected and meet building codes? I hope they asked. It’s only reasonable to ask if you own a horse such as those destroyed in the fire.

Philip Rovang

Lindenhurst