Some news out of Hondo, NM

[gowestyoungman]

Arson Ruled Out in JEH Barn Fire


Hondo, NM--Arson was officially ruled out as the cause of a June 6 fire that destroyed the stallion barn and killed six stallions at JEH Stallion Station at Hondo, New Mexico.

According to a story published in the Ruidoso News, New Mexico State Fire Marshall Joe Chavez said “We’ve eliminated any criminal intent.” He added, “We now have engineers in there to see what they can tell us about the actual cause of the fire.”

The fire claimed the lives of American Quarter Horse stallions Fredricksburg, The Down Side, Southern Cartel, and Thoroughbred stallions Favorite Trick, Saratoga Six, and Gone Hollywood.

Jim Helzer, co-owner of JEH New Mexico, said "We are making plans to tear down the damaged facilities and rebuild them with new and even better facilities in time for the 2007 breeding season".

According to Helzer JEH has retained their own fire experts and consulting engineers. "We are doing all we can to get to the bottom of things and find out how it happened", he added.

[nferro9925]

Maybe a fire sprinkler system will be included?

[Lei Owen]

I just don't understand. If you have that many valuable animal's, why are they living in a fire trap? Why are they all housed together? Good Grief, protect your investment!

Eliminate all wood in barns. Cinder block, brick, concrete, steel or aluminum siding and roof, metal trusses. Fire retardent insulation. There is no need in this day and age to use wood any place in a barn! Wired by a liscensed electrician. If you put in the fly misting system, how hard would it be to add a sprinkler system. Retro fitting one isn't that expensive. May not be the prettiest barn on the block, but you'll sleep better. And your insurance agent will thank you.

[summerhorse]

No kidding. I was just at the KY Horse Park and even though those barns are wood I did notice sprinkler systems around. I was at Claiborne and they have cement block barns (didn't notice what the roofs were) and not so big that someone couldn't get in the middle if spotted in time. (like the one with inner doors was 8 stalls or so, the other was a shed row type opening to outside). I was at Taylor Made, magnificent large stalls, block barns, only 2 stalls each AND three doors, on inside and one on back to small paddock and one on front. Gainesway, block barns but they do have wood interior around bottom of stall, didn't notice if sprinklers (sorry Afleet Alex was there!) so the wood unless treated to not burn plus straw might negate the block part. But only four stalls per barn and a wash rack in middle.

I hope this farm makes their new barn more fire proof.