First-hand accounts of the tragic barn fire which occurred this past Sunday in Kingston paint an extremely dangerous picture of the situation. Initial responders did all they could to save lives, and took some heroic steps to help sustain equine life.
The barn, located near Perth Road and McAdoos Lane, burnt to the ground Sunday after a wind-aided fire ripped through the structure.
According to an article by the Kingston Whig-Standard, the barn in question was on the grounds of the former Kingston Park Raceway, which is owned by Rideau Carleton Raceway.
The Whig article explains that the barn was home to horses, at least some of which train on the grounds. The report states that in addition to Danish Sarah, a horse owned by Matt Harvey, two other unnamed Standardbreds trained by Gord Hart also lost their lives in the blaze. The article states that a total of four horses lost their lives in the fire.
The report states that Ricky Cameron, the groundskeeper at Kingston Park Raceway, went above and beyond to get horses out as the raging blaze was in full swing. Cameron, who was injured in the ordeal, was struck by portions of the roof that were on fire. Later, he literally pulled a horse up and out of its stall to save its life.
"I went into one stall, the horse just had eye surgery, and it was laying down and was already ready to die," Cameron told The Whig, adding that, "I wasn't going for that."
The article explains that Cameron wrapped a leash around the horse’s neck and pulled.
"She didn't want to go, normally I wouldn't be aggressive with the horse, but in this case it wouldn't come so I gave it a slap on the side of the head.
"It startled her and at the same time I pulled then she got up and she slowly walked out."
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of horses that were lost in the blaze.
(With files from the Kingston Whig-Standard)