Charred remains of mother pigs

burned to death in gestation crates.

Farm animals continue to die horrific deaths

with no changes to the farm building code.

Toronto, August 24, 2009: Despite repeated calls to the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes to amend the code to protect farm animals in barns, animals continue to die in large numbers in barn fires.

"Less than a month ago a barn fire in Alberta took the lives of another 15,000 pigs", said Twyla Francois, Head of Investigation for Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Food Animals. "The attached photos from the fire show charred sows in gestation crates and animals whose bodies exploded, forcing their internal organs and unborn piglets outside their bodies. These horrific images exemplify the grave nature of the massive loss of living beings in Canadian barn fires, and the need for substantial and immediate improvements to the Farm Building Code of Canada."

"The national code for farm buildings contains only minimal standards and does not adequately protect animal lives", said Stephanie Brown, spokesperson for the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals. "The code states that neither sprinklers nor smoke alarms are required for farm buildings unless there is a minimum of one person occupancy per 40 square metres. Animals are not considered occupants. The protection of farm animals who live in these buildings is not a consideration. Changes to the code are desperately needed now."

We are recommending changes that require all new commercial farm buildings housing animals to include sprinklers and alarms to detect smoke and fire; use of non-toxic, non-carcinogenic fire retardants on wood surfaces; installation of fire walls, and mandatory inspections by the local fire chief", said Liz White, Leader of the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada. "We are also asking that existing commercial farm buildings which house animal populations be required to be retrofitted to meet similar standards to new barn structures and that the capital costs associated with implementing the above fire-prevention measures should be tax deductible."

"Industry cannot be allowed to dictate the fire prevention standards for barns. We know that many fires are preventable and bending to industry pressure is unconscionable", said Francois. "We are asking the Canadian Commission and provincial governments to implement immediate changes to fire code regulations across the country."

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For information: Twyla Francois 204-296-1375, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Stephanie Brown 416-9204984, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Liz White 416-462-9541, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz270bj4o0Q
and for photos, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/cetfa/