A tragic barn fire took place on Tuesday (November 11) in Michigan. Fire ripped through a stable in Edwardsburg and claimed the lives of 17 horses.

A report on the situation by FOX 28 states that the fire started at roughly 4:30 p.m. and that the barn eventually collapsed.

The report did not indicate the breed of the horses that perished, but it did state that there were no sprinklers inside the barn and that firefighters had to utilize 900 feet of hose and portable reservoirs to fight the blaze.

FOX 28 reported that 75 firefighters from 15 different departments worked to put the fire out. Fire officials do not know the cause of the blaze.

A neighbour, Austin Steil, was quoted as saying that the fire “devastated” him.

“I've lived across this mansion for all my life. It's beautiful, just looking out at it for days,” he said. “I just really can't believe that all of this went down tonight.”

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to all those affected by the barn fire.

(With files from FOX 28)