A barn fire at Smithfield Stables in Edwardsburg, Mich., killed 18 horses, one donkey and one dog the afternoon of Nov. 11. The farm is owned by Phil and Norene Smith.
According to WSBT 22 News, 15 fire departments responded to the report of a fire at 4:32 p.m., and it took 80 firefighters about eight hours to get the blaze under control around midnight. They returned to the scene the following morning after the fire rekindled.
A friend told the South Bend Tribune that the farm manager Shelly Burdette, who lives above the barn in an apartment with her husband Wayne and her two children, smelled smoke and was the first to investigate. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to rescue some horses, but they were able to escape unharmed.
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Edwardsburg Fire Chief Bruce Stack told WSBT 22 News that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Friends and neighbors set up a Facebook page for people who are interested in helping the families affected by the fire.
