3 horses dead, several rescued by ‘quick-thinking passerby’ after Powhatan barn fire

POWHATAN, Va. (WWBT) - Large flames could be seen from Dorset Road in Powhatan on Sunday evening after a fire broke out at a barn, where Powhatan Fire and Rescue said horses were reported to be trapped inside.

Chief Phil Warner with Powhatan Fire and Rescue told 12 On Your Side crews first got the call about the barn fire around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday and arrived six minutes later.

“The barn was about a third of the way involved in fire,” said Chief Warner about the scene when crews arrived.

Powhatan Fire and Rescue said a “quick-thinking passerby” pulled over at the scene and rescued five horses inside.

When the fire department arrived, firefighters were able to rescue another horse trapped in a stall.

Powhatan Fire and Rescue said firefighters used a bar to force open the stall door. With help from a rope, firefighters were able to lead the horse to safety. The horse received veterinary care on the scene for burns.

Tragically, three horses didn’t survive.

Chief Warner said crews were at the fire scene for two hours and used all five of their water tankers to help extinguish the flames.

“We don’t have a municipal water system right here in this area, so we shuttle water in from a local dry hydrant, which is where we use a pond and we siphon the water from the pond, and we shuttle the water back to the site, and we use the water to fight the fire,” he told 12 On Your Side.

On Monday afternoon, Chief Warner said firefighters returned to the scene to piece together what unfolded.

Chief Warner credits the good samaritan for their heroic deed as the investigation into what sparked the blaze continues.

“A good samaritan stops by and comes into somebody’s property, sees a fire and lets the horses out of the stall,” he told 12 On Your Side. “It’s an incredible heroic act and we just want to recognize that person that helped out this family.”