Twenty-one horses were safely rescued after a five-alarm fire broke out at an equestrian center in Massachusetts Thursday night, officials said.
The Templeton Fire Department was first notified at 9:07 p.m. Thursday of a fire at Liberty-Belle Stables at 551 Patriot's Road in Templeton, about 60 miles west of Salem. Templeton Police arrived at the scene first and notified firefighters of smoke and fire at a house on the property, which had the horse training facility nearby, prompting a second alarm.
The fire soon spread to the horse training facility and grew to five alarms, with firefighters responding from several nearby communities including Athol, Ashburnham, Barre, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Phillipston, Royalston, Westminster, and Winchendon.
Five horses were inside the burning barn, with another 15 outside nearby, the Templeton Fire Department said. The horses were safely removed from the barn, and all the horses were safely moved away from the fire. Some of the stabled horses' owners and other volunteers arrived with trailers to assist.
CFPA Massachusetts member Adam MacMillan (@AGMFirePhotog) is also on the scene of the sixth alarm at the Templeton Horse Farm in Templeton, MA. pic.twitter.com/8YQ4MMca8J
— CT Fire Photo (@ctfirephoto) May 31, 2024
There were no injuries to animals, civilians or first responders.
"This was the second five-alarm fire we responded to in two weeks. I want to recognize the enormous work put in by Templeton firefighters, Templeton police, and all our mutual aid partners. We're fortunate and deeply grateful that no injuries were reported," Templeton Fire Chief David Dickie said.
"I also would like to thank Templeton Dispatch, Templeton Police, Templeton CERT, Templeton Light and Water, Templeton/Winchendon Animal Control, the Salvation Army, and the Red Cross for all their help during the fire and its aftermath," Dickie said.
The house was only partially damaged, but the horse training facility was a total loss. Liberty-Belle Stables asked clients, fans and friends on Facebook to share "happy" stories about their time at the equestrian center in the wake of the loss.
"Please help us by telling a happy story, or someway that Liberty-Belle has touched your life. We need all the good memories we can get," the business wrote. "This place was my dream, and I went into it with one of the best instructors out there. I could not ask for a better barn family. We are so grateful to have you all."
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Templeton Fire Department, District 8 Fire Investigation Unit, and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office.
--with reporting by TMX
