According to McHenry Township Fire District Lt. Tom Ruggero, at least 15 horses died on Wednesday, April 11, when a fire swept through a barn in northern Illinois destroying the barn and killing the horses. Fortunately most of the stable's horses were in a pasture at the time of the fire
Destructive barn fire
At least 15 horses died on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, when a fire swept through a barn in northern Illinois.
Several people ran into the burning stable to free some of the horses as the flames quickly spread late Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters responded from 20 departments, trucking in the water needed to fight the fire.
A search by helicopter was under way Thursday for three horses that remained missing and were thought to be running loose, according to McHenry County Animal Control.
Terry Upton, one of those who ran into the burning building to try to rescue horses, said he was driving nearby when he saw the smoke and came to help.
"It started burning so fast. I started going down the hall opening up the stalls," he said. "I got three horses out. Two of them got outside."
So far, fire officials have not announced the cause of the fire.