Horses evacuated during minor barn fire at The Big E

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A fire was put out on The Big E Fairgrounds Friday night.

According to The Big E, after the fair’s closure Friday night, a minor fire was reported in the C Barn on the fairgrounds at 11:45 p.m. The West Springfield Fire Department received 28 calls for service for the fire. The horses that were stabled in the barn were evacuated immediately.

22News spoke with Big E President and CEO Gene Cassidy about the fire and said that there were 161 horses inside the barn that had to be evacuated. The Massachusetts Fire Services Drone team performed a sweep of the area and determined that all 161 horses are now safe and recovered with minor injuries. A couple of employees were injured while trying to contain the horses, but are expected to be okay.

“It happens that the U.S. Equestrian Federation, which is the sanctioning body that examines horse facilities, has just let me know that our facility passed with flying colors, the highest rating that they give. So certainly, with this event and the way it was contained, is a testimony to the Eastern States and equestrian world’s ability to run a great show,” said Cassidy.

The fire was contained to a small area and the sprinkler system was successful in making sure that the animals and exhibitors were safe. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time but the West Springfield Fire Association Unit with assistance from the State Police assigned to the Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.

Interim Director of Marketing at the Eastern States Exposition Anne-Alise Pietruska also told 22News that normal activities will resume on Saturday in the Coliseum with the 4-H Horse Show.

“We are grateful for the prompt response from our team and authorities, plus all exhibitors who are supporting each other during this transition,” said The Big E.

The C Barn is located next to the Coliseum and across from the Storrowton building on The Big E Fairgrounds.

This was a collaborative effort between the West Springfield Fire Department on and off duty, West Springfield Police Department, Mass State Police, MEMA, exhibitors, and Eastern States Exposition Staff.

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