Injury victim identified
Fire reportedly killed at least 43 horses and seriously injured a man who was trying to save them Saturday afternoon, June 8, from a large barn at 8755 State Route 638, Belle Center.
About 12:18 p.m., firefighters from Logan, Hardin and Union counties were dispatched to the scene.
Information provided to first responders indicated that around 100 horses were being housed in the 60,000-square-foot barn at the time of the fire.
More photos below
The barn, used by two horse training businesses — Brant Performance Horses and Priest Performance Horses — was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, New Richland Assistant Fire Chief Jason Johns said.
Eric Priest, owner of Priest Performance Horses, sustained second-degree burns to his arms, back and head trying to save as many of his client’s horses as he could, according to a “Pray For Priest Performance Horses” GoFundMe page organized by Jamie Miller.
Priest is now hospitalized at Ohio State Burn Care for the next two weeks, Miller said. He has lost his source of income, a lot of horses, all his tack, and now faces medical bills and a road to recovery, she noted, in asking for donations for Priest and his wife, Summer.
Other employees of the businesses lost their living quarters and belongings.
The barn is a “total loss,” Asst. Chief Johns said.
Firefighters battled the blaze and remained on scene until about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and damage is estimated to be in excess of $1 million, Johns said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident because of the high value of the loss.
Brant Performance Horses owners, Brandon and Cathy Brant, own the property, according to Logan County Auditor records.
Logan County Sheriff’s deputies closed traffic on S.R. 638 in the area as a steady stream of firetrucks, tankers, concrete trucks and other equipment and personnel converged on the scene.
Fire personnel utilized a private pond along State Route 273 west of Belle Center to fill tanker trucks to supply water to fight the blaze.
Members of the horse training community have reached out via social media to offer words of sympathy and support about the tragedy.
By early Monday afternoon, June 10, several GoFundMe pages organized to help the Brant and Priest families, had reached impressive totals.
“Support Brant Performance Horses after Devastating barn fire” has raised about $231,600 via the crowd-funding site.
“Support Priest Performance Horse after Barn Fire,” set up by Jen Bishop has raised around $7,400.
Ms. Miller’s GFM page to help the Priests stands at nearly $32,000.
Additionally, a GFM page has been set up for 17-year-old Marina Fox, an employee of Priest Performance Horses, who lost her horse, Yukon, her job and all her tack, in the fire, organizer Emily Henry wrote.
Marina purchased Yukon last year and was co-training the horse with Eric Priest with the goal of competing in a Quarter Horse Congress event.
The “Support Marina’s Journey Back in the Saddle” page had reached about $9,400 by early Monday afternoon.
Listen to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office provided 911 call from a passerby reporting the fire on June 8:
Ground Photos | T.J. Hubbard and Jacob Howell. Aerial Photos | Brayden Barth
