A fire broke out Friday night at The Big E Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts after the fair had closed for the evening. The fire was reported in the C Barn on the fairgrounds and the West Springfield Fire Department responded to 28 calls for service. A total of 161 horses inside the barn were successfully evacuated with only minor injuries. The Massachusetts Fire Services Drone team confirmed that all the horses were safe and accounted for.
The fire, which was contained to a small area, did not cause extensive damage thanks to the sprinkler system on the premises. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation by the West Springfield Fire Association Unit with assistance from the State Police Fire Marshal’s office.
Despite the incident, normal activities at The Big E Fairgrounds resumed the following day with the 4-H Horse Show in the Coliseum. The Eastern States Exposition expressed gratitude for the quick response from their team, authorities, and exhibitors who supported each other during the evacuation and recovery process.
The C Barn, where the fire occurred, is located adjacent to the Coliseum and across from the Storrowton building on The Big E Fairgrounds. The successful handling of the fire was credited to the collaborative effort of the West Springfield Fire Department, West Springfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, MEMA, exhibitors, and Eastern States Exposition staff.
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