BELLE CENTER, Ohio — Dozens of horses were killed Saturday and one person was seriously injured when a barn caught fire in Logan County, reports say.
The Columbus Dispatch reports the barn at Brant Performance & Priest Performance Horses is used by two performance-horse businesses. At least 43 horses died in the fire, WCMH Channel 4 reports.
The Bellefontaine Examiner reports the person injured was a worker at the barn who was attempting to save the horses. He was first taken to Mary Rutan Hospital and before being transferred to OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
The Dispatch identified the worker as Eric Priest, who operates Priest Performance Horses. The Dispatch reports Priest has second-degree burns to his arms, back and head, and he also lost his business in the fire.
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office tells WHIO Channel 7 that firefighters were called to the facility at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, the 60,000-square-foot facility was fully involved, preventing firefighters from entering the building, WHIO reports.
The facility included stalls, a performing arena, and living quarters for workers, the Dispatch reports. The fire was not contained until about 7 p.m., the Examiner reports.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Logan County is located in western Ohio.