Nearly Two Dozen Horses Perished in a Monroe County, Pennsylvania Barn

TANNERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- Nearly two dozen horses perished in a Monroe County barn fire, authorities said.

The fire broke out at the Meadowbrook Inn and Riding Club around 12:30 a.m. Sunday and the recently renovated barn was quickly engulfed.

The cause of the fire, which leveled the barn, is under investigation.

Employees noticed flames coming out of the barn as they were leaving for the night, inn owner Joan Fitzgerald said.

By the time firefighters arrived, most of the barn was engulfed, Pocono Township Fire Chief Tom Kresge said. Twenty-three horses were trapped inside and died.

''None were rescued,'' said Joe Espiona, the inn's restaurant manager. ''We tried to open the doors, but the fire was too intense.''