An equine rescue in South Carolina caught fire this weekend, completely destroying its barn and seriously injuring a horse. Now, the community is helping the rescue rebuild from the ground up.
The fire began around 7:00 p.m. Friday, sending a high cloud of smoke into the air. Only one horse by the name of Whistle was trapped inside the end stall.
“He was very lucky to get out. She pulled him out of a stall that was completely engulfed in smoke, and his shavings were on fire, and he was on fire as well,” Caroline Mulstay, Equine Rescue of Aiken manager told WRDW.
Fortunately, Whistle only suffered thermal burns from the heat on his back. His recovery time is unknown because those injuries usually take several days to form.
WJBF reported that the rescue consists of 90 acres, and it lost $100,000-$150,000 in medical supplies in addition to the barn.
Despite losing so much in the fire, the community is stepping in to rebuild the barn from the ground up.
Over the past two days, the community raised nearly $25,000 for the barn.
“Overwhelming … is the only word I have right now,” Mulstay said.
To help donate to the equine center, visit their website at aikenequinerescue.org.