Nov. 25--The fire that killed 32 horses in a barn near Woodstock apparently started in a hayloft, but investigators said Monday they may never know the cause of the blaze.
Five horses survived by getting out of the barn at Valley View Acres when it went up in flames Saturday night, but the rest died in an intense fire that burned the structure to the ground, officials said.
Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department Deputy Chief Chris Olsen said the barn had electricity and gas heaters, and that hay can spontaneously combust if it is moist and hot. But it was not immediately known if those factors played a role. Arson is not suspected, he said.
The son of the property owners, Tyson and Amber Bauman, awakened about 11 p.m. Saturday to discover the barn in flames, officials said. By the time firefighters arrived, it was engulfed in flames.
One hydrant on the property was used, and 27 neighboring departments helped fight the blaze, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage, Olsen said.
Barns for agricultural uses typically are not required to have fire detectors or suppression devices, Olsen said.
Water sprinkler systems are too expensive for most private barn operators, and fire alarms often give false alarms due to dust and heat in the barn, said Jason Hornickel, executive director of the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society in Barrington.
rmccoppin@tribpub.com
Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
