Eighteen horses died in a barn fire early Wednesday morning, July 5, in Plainfield, Illinois, said fire officials.
Firefighters arrived at Del Real Stables around 1:45 a.m. The fire spread before crews were able to get it under control said Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton.
There were 30 horses stabled in the barn, and 18 of them died said officials. There were no hydrants in the area and water had to be brought in said Stratton.
Two workers spotted the fire while doing a routine check on the horses and called the police. The workers and the horse owners managed to rescue 12 horses.
“Without civilians intervening this incident could have been a lot worse,” Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief Dave Riddle said.
An estimated 70 firefighters from eight nearby towns spent nearly seven hours fighting the fire.
Officials think the fire started in a semitrailer close to the barn that was used to store wood chips and straw. However, the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek said it was unclear if the fire originated inside or outside the trailer.
Officials looked for evidence of fireworks but did not find any.
“With the Fourth of July, pretty much anywhere you go, there are fireworks being shot. That is something that we are looking at. Right now, we don’t have any indication that fireworks were the cause,” said Konopek.
Two people suffered minor injuries, a sprained ankle and breathing problems; they were taken to a hospital.
Three of the horses that survived the fire were sent to an equine hospital. One had extensive burns on its back, another had burns on its back and face, and a third was acting colicky, said Alison Powers, an equine veterinarian who was at the scene Wednesday.
“It’s rough,” said Powers.
The horses likely will get worse before they recover. She plans on monitoring the horses that survived and did not need to go to the hospital, looking for signs of dehydration, stress, and other symptoms.
The trauma the horses experienced was not only physical, but psychological as well, shown by their behavior.
“They lost their friends,” Powers said. “The trauma of getting out of a burning building … any type of stress like this is definitely rough on them.”
The owners Konopek spoke to were very emotional.
“Most of these people have had these horses for many, many years,” he said. “They think of them as their children, and as you can imagine (they) are very emotional.”
Stratton said the barn was a total loss.
Plainfield officials said they do not recall any problems with the property when it was incorporated by the village.
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