UPDATED Wednesday, November 24, 2010 -- 4:45 p.m.
By NBC15's Dana Brueck
In Rock County, a barn fire has devastated a horse rescue. The operators say more than two dozen horses died.
Footville firefighters got the call around 8:45 Wednesday morning to the property on Old Highway 11.
"I didn't realize how much it hit me until I walked back in there again, and it's pretty bad."
Inside of Jim Bondowski's shell of a barn rest the remains of more than two dozen of his horses that were rescued by Bondowski and his wife.
"I heard a couple of popping sounds ... with deer hunters been hunting out there."
"I looked outside... I seen the horses running... and I could see black smoke ... and flames out of corner of building."
Bondowski rushed to save his animals but was overcome by the smoke and flames.
"I could not see ... I could hear horses screaming, hollering... to get out ... and I ran to the closest one where the fire was... and I got her out and kept going and going."
"As soon as we opened the doors, the flames with the oxygen... the total barn went," he says.
The fire consumed everything Bondowski says he needs to operate the horse rescue.
He still has more than a dozen horses who were outside when the fire erupted.
"Hay's gone, grain's gone... halters gone... blankets burned ... medicine... dewormers... everything."
Firefighters believe a faulty heater or an electrical problem caused the fire. They do not think it's suspicious.
The Bondowskis need the following supplies: blankets, halters, lead ropes, hay, grain, bedding, grooming equipment, OTC vet supplies, heated and regular water pails, barn shovels, hay forks, 3 electric fencers and materials, dewormers, wheelbarrow for manure, hay bags, wall and corner feeders, saddles, bridles, pads, harnesses, and cat supplies
A fund also is being set up for H.O.R.S.E. That's the name of the organization.
It's at M&I bank in Janesville.
100 North Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 754-7771
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Posted Wednesday, November 24, 2010 --- 1:55 p.m.
NBC15 is on the scene of a devastating barn fire in Rock County that has left 26 horses dead.
It happened this morning on Old Highway 11 in Footville.
A man and his wife run a horse rescue there, and are in need of donations. A fund is being set up at the M&I Bank on Main St. in Janesville.
We're still awaiting information from firefighters, we'll bring you the latest information as soon as it is available.
Click on the Photo tab above to see a photo from the scene.
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