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22 Show Horses Killed In NJ Barn Fire
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 22, 2012
Modified Jan 22, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 22, 2012
Modified Jan 22, 2012
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Early Saturday morning, 22 show horses were killed in a massive barn fire in northern New Jersey. Authorities say the fire, which they believe was an accident, broke out at the Heritage Acres farm in Lafayette; by the time firefighters arrived just before 2 a.m., the barn was already engulfed in flames. The owners, who did not have insurance, are devastated: "We’re just going to sell our property. It was our business and we’re too old to start over," 73-year-old Betty Hahn told the Star-Ledger.
The horses housed there placed in competitions up and down the East Coast for decades, with an eclectic mix of dressage, reining and jumper horses. Hahn estimated most of the show horses were valued between $10,000 and $60,000 apiece. “I would rather had my house burned down,” Arthur Hahn, 77, told the NY Times. “The house we could have got out. The barn, the horses couldn’t get out, especially at night. If it was daytime they would have been all out in the pastures. In the night you put them all in so they wouldn’t be cold.”
The barn was built about 20 years ago, and authorities don't think the fire was set purposefully: “At this point, we’re not believing it to be in any way suspicious,” said Fire Marshal Joseph Inga. Hahn added that four horses in another barn were not harmed, but he couldn't see his family build up the business again: “I’m 77, I’m done. It broke my spirit; this is it. As soon as I clean up I’m selling it. I hadn’t intended to retire but this is making me retire; I can’t afford to rebuild.”
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accident
barn
fire
horses
new jersey
nj
show horses
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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