(KWNO)-A barn and attached residence were fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the Minnesota Equestrian Center on Thursday. The Wilson Fire Department was first on the scene and “due to the size of the building, the heavy fuel load within the building, and the advanced stage of the fire,” requested help from other fire departments. Firefighters used an aerial fire apparatus to fight the blaze and a breezeway connecting the burning barn to the show arena was removed using an excavator to stop the spread of the fire. The fire damage to the arena was minimal, but the residence and first barn were total losses. No people were hurt but two horses and a cat died in the fire. A fire watch was maintained through the night by Equestrian Center employees and the Wilson FD.
Courtesy Wilson Fire Dept.
The Equestrian Center is a large structure of mostly interconnected buildings on Gilmore Valley Road. More than 100 firefighters and emergency responders worked to get the fire under control, pumping an estimated 120,000 gallons of water on the fire, and tanker operators making over 50 round trips to water sources to haul water to the scene, according to the Wilson Fire Department Facebook page.
Courtesy Wilson Fire Dept.
Emergency crews on the scene were Ridgeway Fire & Rescue, Winona Fire Department, Goodview Fire and Rescue, Lewiston Fire/ Rescue, Rushford Fire Department, St. Charles Fire & Rescue, Kellogg Fire Department, Winona County Emergency Management, Winona County Sheriff’s Office, Winona Area Ambulance Service and the Winona Police Department.
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