9 horses, owner escape fire in East Penn
Above: This structure at 1227 Ben Salem Road was gutted by a swift-moving fire Wednesday afternoon. Scan this photo with the Prindeo app for a video and photo gallery. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
Smoke could be seen for miles from the horse farm fire on Ben Salem Road in East Penn Township. COPYRIGHT LARRY NEFF/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Fire firefighters douse flames at the fire on Ben Salem Road in East Penn Township. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
Brewer Adams stood helplessly as he watched his huge multi-acre horse farm in East Penn Township burn to the ground.
Fortunately, both Adams and his nine horses were unharmed after a fast-paced fire gutted his property at 1227 Ben Salem Road on Wednesday afternoon.
The farm — which included a big arena with a barn, an apartment, and horse stalls — was a racehorse training center where Adams had lived for six years.
Unfortunately, all the stalls, the riding arena, and the apartment were destroyed by the devastating blaze.
“I was home at the time in the barn, smelled smoke coming from the apartment and called 911,” Adams said.
Township fire Chief Bob Kleintop said the fire was reported around 1:30 p.m.
“The fire was in the front room,” Kleintop said. “Within two minutes, it went through the whole building.”
Kleintop said no injuries were reported, and added that firefighters remained on scene for about five hours.
“I’m calling it accidental,” Kleintop said.
“There’s nothing you can really investigate here. What can you find?
Kleintop said fire departments from Bowmanstown, Palmerton, Aquashicola, Parryville, Lehighton, Mahoning, Franklin, West Penn, New Ringgold, Germansville and Lehigh Township all assisted at the scene.
“Thanks to all the fire companies that came under aid and gave us a hand here,” Kleintop said. “We all work good together.”
