MOUNT VERNON — The hard work youths have been putting into preparing their fair projects for the Knox County Fair will soon pay off. Youngsters and their animals will be arriving at the fairgrounds this weekend, carefully preparing the stalls those animals will live in over the next week.
The safety of those children and other fairgoers is very much on the minds of the Mount Vernon Fire Department fire inspectors.
“During our inspection of the fairgrounds, we concentrated, as always, on items that could become a problem when a large amount of people are present,” said Chris Menapace, assistant chief, who heads the fire inspection bureau.
“We watch for overuse of extension cords, blocking of fire exits and fire extinguishers, and general maintenance of exit signing and emergency lighting,” he explained. “All of these items are difficult to maintain when people are trying to beat the heat, and trying to create more space for themselves and their animals.”
Bruce Gregg, president of the Senior Fair Board, said the board has made many improvements in the barns over the last few years to create an even higher level of safety.
“It’s improved tremendously over the past 10 years,” he said.
The electric has been updated in many of the barns, which Menapace said would improve safety.
Gregg said that safety of exhibitors and their projects, as well as those attending the fair, is the drive behind the recent improvements.
“That’s why we spend so much money on electrical upgrades every year,” he explained.
“The fair board has been very cooperative and very proactive in helping stress the importance of fire safety and fire prevention,” Menapace said.
An issue being discussed by exhibitors who plan to bring animals to the fair is a rumored crackdown on the use of fans at the fair, used to cool the animals.
“I have never said that you cannot use fans,” said MVFD Chief Shawn Christy. “There have been past issues with overloaded outlets. The fair board has been proactive in increasing outlets in all of the agricultural barns.”
In the past, running seven or eight fans with extension cords into a regular outlet posed dangers, Christy said. Updating the electrical conduit in the barns and adding more outlets over the past year will improve safety.
“I think this year is going to be smoother than last year,” Christy said. “I believe the fair board shared our concern and we all want the same thing — for everyone to have a safe and enjoyable fair.”
Menapace said extension cords must be used properly and in compliance with the Ohio fire code. The cords cannot be placed in walkways, or where they are covered with straw or hay.
Fair board members say they very much want to stress safety at the fair, and they also understand exhibitors’ concerns for the comfort and safety of their animals.
“We don’t want anybody getting hurt, and we don’t want any animals getting hurt,” Gregg said. “If common sense is used then you can achieve safety and comfort.”
Parents and 4-H advisors have been discussing the new safety regulations at meetings over the past week, wondering what equipment will meet the standards of the Ohio Fire Code and pass inspection with the fire department. Christy said he received a phone call from a Lowe’s employee asking which extension cords would be acceptable to sell for use at fair.
Christy said on Monday that all cords and their use at the fair will have to be screened by inspectors on a case-by-case basis to determine compliance. He said the length and type of cord, the condition of the cord and the area in which it will be used will all figure into the inspectors’ decisions.
Menapace said he plans to walk through the barns himself during fair week. Christy said that last year, the first for the new inspection bureau, a lot of new regulations not previously enforced were put on the plates of exhibitors. He said it is understandable that it would be a difficult adjustment with all of the added expectations.
Junior Fair Coordinator Rochelle Adam said on Tuesday that she had not heard any of the concerns about heat issues and animals at the fair, but promised to look into the situation.
Senior Fair Board member and OSU Extension agent Larry Hall said he received a phone call this week from Emily Marth, safety, loss-control and HR coordinator for the county, inquiring about a letter some parents are rumored to have received informing them that fans and extension cords would be an issue at this year’s fair.
“I’m personally not aware of any change,” Hall said. “The extension cord situation that we’ve had for the past few years is that they have to be UL approved.”
Hall said he was aware some changes had been made on the fairgrounds in accordance with the Ohio Fire Code, including single-action door knobs. Menapace said that when a door is labeled a fire exit, the door knob must be able to operate with a single action for easy exit in an emergency.
Exhibitors and their parents have expressed concern that the heat, without the relief of fans could be hazardous to the animals’ health. Some animals, such as hogs, llamas, poultry and horses, are extremely susceptible to heat.
Jon Paul Dunagan of Mount Vernon, a 4-H equine advisor for six years and 4-H animal exhibitor for 11 years before that, said he believed extreme heat on the animals can pose a health and life risk to the animals, and even to people caring for the animals.
“What they need to think about is if they get a horse that’s all hot and irritated, and that horse comes out of the stall, or flips out and shifts backward, and you are behind that horse, it’s definitely a safety concern,” Dunagan said.
“These barns are hot. One day it’s 90 degrees and humid as heck, and the next day it’s in the 70s and there’s freezing cold rain.”
He said youths trying to keep their animals healthy become very concerned when the temperatures soar and the animals begin showing signs of stress.
After speaking with fire officials, Gregg said he believes everyone is on the same page regarding what will be an acceptable use of fans and extension cords next week.
Menapace said the safety of people comes first.
“Although the comfort and safety of all animals at the fair are important, their comfort does not create a situation where shortcuts to adherence to the fire code can be taken,” he said. “The safety of the children and other human inhabitants at the fair is paramount.”
