DES MOINES, Iowa — A fire at a barn on Des Moines’ east side Monday morning claimed the lives of at least three horses.
The call about a barn fire at 729 SE 32nd Street came in at 6:09 a.m. according to Capt. Stacia Swanson with the Des Moines Fire Department. That’s just southeast of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. When firefighters arrived at the scene they found heavy flames coming from a barn.
The owner of the property, Jose Piña, told WHO 13 that 15 horses were in the barn at the time of the fire, and at least three of them have died. Most of the horses in the barn belong to Piña, but he said some of the horses were boarded.
Piña said he tried to get as many horses out as possible but the flames and smoke forced him out of the barn.
“I tried to do my best. I tried to save those horses’ lives. Unfortunately, two of those horses aren’t mine. I hope those families that own them, they understand it wasn’t on my hands. I tried, I tried hard. I mean I almost got killed there to try to save them. I hope they understand me. I did my best,” said Piña.