True North

Does anyone know how long you would have from the time a fire is set (in this case it is arson) to the time the barn is destroyed to get horses out?

Superlagg

Depends on many factors. If the barn is old and dried, full of hay, covered in dried urine and whatnot, painted with flammable paint, it'll burn a lot faster than one that isnt. In a story like this, it can burn anywhere from one sentence to 5000 pages.

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valeca

It would depend on a lot of factors. The age of the barn, its contents, wind/weather, etc. With the right circumstances, it could smolder for hours or become an inferno within minutes.

EDIT: Dang, beat me to that submit button, Superlagg.

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True North

Thanks! This barn is fairly old, but very clean. It is a horse barn with a fair amount of tack, but the hay is not in the same building. I am needing about twenty minutes for it to burn, does that sound fairly accurate?

quiet lady 53

Why not ask your local firemen- they usually don't mind answering questions if they are not busy.

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True North

That is a good idea, thank you. Also, if anyone would like to help me, I've posted the beginning of this novel in the Critique forum. I would really appreciate anyone's help, no one has posted yet.

wmd

I would think that if it is arson than the person would use an accelerant... most likely gasoline spread around the inside or outside of the barn... in that case the fire would build very quickly... the length of the burn would depend various factors regarding the barn, such as age, moisture, contents,, etc.

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A Gypsy's Abandon

Size of the barn makes a difference too. I think twenty minutes would be fair enough time if it is a large enough barn and doesn't have hay in it.

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HarryG

It would be best if your application for a barn conversion came before the fire. Having lived in Devon, where these things occasionally happen, they are usually destroyed within half-an-hour, just before the Fire Brigade arrive.