KEARNEY, Neb. — A woman who rescues horses let two of them out of her barn just hours before it burned early Tuesday.
The two-story, 90-year-old barn at Epona Horse Rescue southeast of Pleasanton was lost along with about 500 square bales of hay, bridles, halters, lead ropes and a saddle.
“Thank God, no animals were in it,” said owner Lin Beaune.
Epona Horse Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing horses from abuse and neglect. Beaune and her husband, Larry Guyton, are the owners and managers.
Beaune awoke around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday, let two miniature horses and two dogs out of the barn, and then fed them in another area of the ranch. Twenty other rescue horses were in a nearby pasture.
Around 5:15 a.m., she went back to bed. The couple were sleeping when the fire broke out, and they learned of the blaze from a neighbor.
Unaware that his wife had removed the animals from the barn, Guyton raced outside barefoot.
Embers also ignited large round bales near the barn. In all, about two-thirds of the ranch's winter hay was lost.
“We're in a pretty critical situation up here right now,” Beaune said.
Beaune said she hasn't thought about what she'll do with winter approaching.
The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.
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