A lightning strike is the most likely cause of a barn fire in Walpole that claimed the lives of eight horses Tuesday night, according to the Massachusetts Fire Marshal’s Office.
The two-alarm fire broke out at Mor Linn Farm on North Street and required the help of firefighters from, many other local departments to extinguish, according to Walpole firefighters. The farm is a boarding and training stable.
The farm owners managed to evacuate about a dozen horses after the fire was discovered around 11 p.m., The Boston Globe reported. No other buildings were damaged, and the surviving horses were moved to other stables.
The fire is not considered suspicious, the state fire marshal’s office said in an email Wednesday night.
Walpole and the surrounding area experienced intense thunderstorms Tuesday night.
“Our thoughts are with the Kennedy family and the entire Mor Linn Farm community following the events of last night. It is our hope that the Walpole community will rally around them (like we always do), to see that they overcome this,” the Walpole Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.
June Gillis-Ahern, a longtime friend of the farm’s owners, created a GoFundMe campaign to offer support in the wake of the fire.
“This tranquil piece of Horse Heaven which is home to The Kennedy Family has suffered tremendous damage as the original barn which housed upwards of twenty horses was completely destroyed and eight of those horses/ponies were tragically lost,” she wrote on the campaign page. “I know I speak for everyone that knows Catherine, Cormac and their Children that they are an incredible family and the love they have for their horses is immeasurable.”
The campaign had raised nearly $70,000 of its $100,000 goal as of 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
“This family is facing many challenges in the short and long term. They and their clients have lost horses, hay, grain, shavings, tack, even things as simple as halters and lead ropes,” Gillis-Ahearn wrote. “ … What is important is being there for them emotionally and financially.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
