Four horses and a donkey were killed in a barn fire on Roachton Road near Perrysburg in Middleton Township, fire officials said.
The barn belongs to Fantasy Acres Horse Ranch. Perrysburg fire officials said owners of the animals have been notified.
“Obviously they’re devastated. They treat them like family,” said Perrysburg Fire Chief Rudy Ruiz.
Property owners on scene declined to comment Tuesday evening.
The chief added about 20 animals were kept at the barn but most were out grazing at the time of the blaze.
The fire started around 3 p.m. Tuesday. By 4:30 p.m. the barn had been reduced to smoldering rubble. High winds likely contributed to the fire’s intensity, authorities said, as did hay inside the barn, which acted as fuel for the flames.
Crews late Tuesday afternoon were using heavy equipment to move debris so they could get water on remaining hot spots. Several hours after the fire was reported, smoke continued to rise from the wreckage. Fire officials said the building was a total loss.
Charred bits of the barn were blown hundreds of feet downwind before settling on neighboring properties.
The cause of the fire is unclear and remains under investigation. No people were injured.
The city fire department, Perrysburg Township Fire Department, and Rossford Fire Department all responded to the blaze.
A portion of Roachton Road remained closed between Fort Megis and Hall Prairie roads as of Tuesday evening.
First Published October 1, 2019, 7:53 p.m.
