COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio --
At least 24 horses and a calf were killed in a large barn fire in Colerain Township.
The owners of Oasis Farms on Dunlap Road spotted the fire at 5:20 a.m. Tuesday and called 911, investigators said.
Capt. Steve Conn said fire crews had to lay down a fire hose about 2,500 feet from the nearest hydrant to the barn.
"We actually had some equipment failure, which can be caused by some people running over the hose," Conn said.
He said the barn was in flames when firefighters arrived.
"These horses are beautiful animals, and to have something like this happen is very traumatic to us and everybody," Conn said.
The barn sustained heavy damage and a portion covering the main horse stall areas collapsed.
Firefighters said 15 to 18 horses were rescued from the fire. The barn involved in the fire is capable of housing up to 50 horses.
Two injured horses were treated by veterinarians on scene and were being cared for by neighbors and friends of the owners of the farm.
Oasis Farms provides training, boarding and breeding services for Crabbet Arabian breed horses.
"All those horses in there, she treated them like family and she said she lost a lot of friends today," friend and neighbor Bruce Slattery said.
"I can't imagine what they're going through because I know all their horses are very close to them," friend Julie Ruehl said.
The fire is being listed as accidental in nature, having been caused by electrical equipment that was used inside the barn for warming a newborn calf. The calf died in the fire.
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