Since 2018, TIR has been monitoring media coverage of fires in livestock farms. Analysing the background and prevention options revealed that this is an issue as complex as it is neglected. The Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) is primarily responsible for protecting people and animals from fire, an institution that draws up fire protection regulations (BSV) that apply throughout Switzerland. These are declared binding for the whole of Switzerland by the Intercantonal Organisation for Technical Barriers to Trade (IOTH) and put into force. The regulations are implemented by the cantons.

The VKF fire protection standard states that the regulations are intended to protect individuals, animals and property and that buildings and installations must be constructed, operated and maintained in such a way that the safety of persons and animals is guaranteed, the start and spread of fires is prevented and effective firefighting is rendered possible. It also states that the requirements for fire protection depend on various factors, such as the type of construction, the form of utilisation and the materials used. Owing to their construction, animal stables pose particular risks for the animals retained in the event of a fire, in addition to the animals’ species-specific behaviour and their frequently large numbers. The requirements for effective preventive measures to protect these animals must be set correspondingly high.

Although the protection of animals is expressly enshrined in the fire protection standards on which it is based, there are no specific provisions in the more detailed fire protection guidelines. On the contrary: Specifications on fire compartments and fire walls only exist in relation to living areas for the protection of humans, but not in relation to animals that are completely exposed to the flames in the event of a fire. Escape routes are only prescribed for stables with a floor area of more than 200 m2 - and even these only need to have two exits that are suitably arranged and sufficiently large for the evacuation of livestock, with doors that open in the direction of escape. However, no account is taken of the panic behaviour specific to livestock in the event of a fire breaking out or heavy smoke development. Particularly in view of the high numbers of animals (up to 300 calves, 1,500 pigs or 18,000 chickens per farm), which are expressly deemed permissible by the Federal Ordinance on Maximum Stocking Levels, this minimum requirement is in no way sufficient. In the event of a fire, the affected animals are completely helpless and at the mercy of the catastrophe, which often ends in a cruel death by suffocation. In addition, the construction and technology of livestock housing systems regularly fulfil mainly economic and practical criteria, whereas they quickly fail in the event of a fire. For example, the design of large sheds for chickens or pigs in particular means that entire sections of the roof structure often collapse, preventing the fire brigade from entering the building and rescuing the animals. In such cases, the emergency services have to stand by idly and look on as animals that are still alive die horribly in the flames. 

There are currently no official statistics on barn fires or animals affected. However, media coverage alone shows that several hundred animals die in barn fires every year. A significant number of these animals could be saved with suitable fire protection measures. TIR's research - with the support of Cantonal Councillor Nathalie Aeschbacher (ZH/GLP) and District Councillor Marco Agostini (BL/Greens) - has shown that effective prevention to protect animals is, however, a highly complex matter. It must therefore be tackled at various levels: In the case of fire protection, a distinction is made between structural, technical and organisational measures, all of which must urgently be included in the construction of animal stables.

In 2020/2021, TIR, PETA Switzerland and Swiss Animal Protection STS approached the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) to participate in the revision of the fire safety regulations applicable throughout Switzerland, so that more attention is being paid to the protection of animals - in addition to individuals and buildings - in the future. Although TIR, among others, was included in the pool of specialists for joining the working groups of the FSIO 2026 project, it was already too late to bring about fundamental changes. 

Unfortunately, the protection goals were once again approved by the IOTH without including animal welfare, meaning that there will still be no room for requirements in favour of animals in the fire protection regulations that come into force as from 2026.

However, the VKF recognised the need for action and stated in a letter to the responsible Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) that the enactment of animal-specific fire safety regulations is a matter for the federal administrative bodies responsible for animal welfare. It also declared its willingness to contribute its fire protection expertise to the legislative process. However, as part of the consultation on the partial revision of the Animal Welfare Ordinance, TIR once again argued in favour of stronger fire protection and submitted a corresponding submission to the FSVO.

Unfortunately, the federal government has not taken all these efforts seriously so far and has shifted responsibility to the cantons. In response to postulate 24.3030 "Animal-specific fire protection regulations for stables" by National Councillor Anna Giacometti (FDP/GR), the Federal Council even writes that the Confederation has no authorisation to issue adequate, animal-specific fire protection regulations. This view must be vehemently contradicted. Even if fire protection in general is primarily a cantonal task, the Confederation is obliged to enact regulations on the protection of animals in accordance with Art. 80 para. 1 of the Federal Constitution. In the area of animal husbandry in particular, the Confederation must take comprehensive legislative action in accordance with Art. 80 para. 2 lit. a BV. If particular dangers - such as the increasing risk of fire - are recognised, it is the responsibility of the Confederation to ensure the protection of animals. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the federal government explicitly authorises large-scale livestock farming, which is associated with significantly increased risks to the life, dignity and welfare of animals in the event of a disaster.

Due to the refusal of the federal government to address the issue and in view of the recent dramatic case in Gossau (SG), in which around 800 pigs suffered an agonising death in the flames, several organisations have joined forces and written an open letter to the responsible Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, in which they point out the urgent need for action. If fire protection in large farms cannot be guaranteed by structural, technical and organisational measures, this circumstance must be taken into account by drastically reducing the number of animals. Accepting the unnecessary and cruel deaths of farm animals is untenable.

In addition, a vigil organised by the animal rights organisation Tier im Fokus (TIF) was held at the site of the incident on Saturday, 18 May 2024. The animal rights organisation PETA has also filed a criminal complaint in the Gossau fire case to ensure that compliance with the guarantor duty of the person in charge of the farm is also checked. Based on the existing legal basis, a certain duty of prevention is already derived from the animal keepers’ responsibility for the animals under their care. For example, consequences under criminal law are possible if the stables are difficult to access or the number of animals is particularly high, so that rescuing the animals in the event of a fire seems practically impossible from the outset. However, after such incidents, a criminal investigation is generally waived, out of consideration for the livelihoods of the livestock farmers directly affected. 

TIR and the seven co-signatory organisations Swiss Animal Protection STS, PETA Switzerland, Tier im Fokus TIF, Animal Rights Switzerland, FOUR PAWS Switzerland, Sentience Politics and Animal Trust consider it essential to add effective, animal-specific fire protection requirements to the animal husbandry regulations. As part of its duty to protect animals (Art. 80 BV) and in view of the constitutional principle of the dignity of the creature (Art. 120 para. 2 BV), it is very much the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that animals bred and kept for human interests are protected from calculable dangers.