43 horses killed, 1 person injured in barn fire at Brant Performance Horses near Indian Lake

“When we were paged, there was thick smoke over the Belle Center, and when we arrived, there were heavy fires and smoke visible,” Johns said.

It is not known what caused the fire, but the state fire marshal is currently investigating, he added. He confirmed that they did not enter the barn because it was “too far away for anyone to have been able to go in.”

Forty-three horses were killed and the total number of horses that escaped or were already outside is unknown, Johns said.

One civilian was injured (with a burn) and taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Ohio State University Medical Center. The extent of the injuries or the person’s condition are unknown, Johns said. No firefighters were injured.

Johns said the barn was a total loss and exact damage estimates were not yet available.

Fire crews from Bellefontaine, De Graff, West Liberty, Rust Creek, Ridgeway and many other emergency responders were also on site to assist.