Criminal intent ruled out as cause of fire at Lebanon
December 6, 2009,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal ruled out criminal intent as the cause of Saturday’s fatal fire at the Warren County Fairgrounds.
Two people and 42 Standardbreds were killed in a Lebanon Raceway barn fire early Saturday, Dec. 5.
Horse owners believed two grooms, Ronnie Williams and James “Turtle” Edwards, were in the barn, which sits on the west side of the race track, when it caught fire. Coroner officials could not confirm the identities of the two victims pulled from the northern section of the structure.
According to Krista Wyatt, a Lebanon Fire Department captain, the fire was called in at 4:50 a.m., and when firefighters arrived, the roof had already collapsed and the barn was fully involved.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Follow this link for more details.
- Industry responds in the wake of Lebanon’s tragic fire (Monday, December 7, 2009)
Lebanon Raceway, the OHHA and horsemen from across the U.S. and Canada have offered support for the victims of this past Saturday’s barn fire at Lebanon Raceway.
- EHARNESS to donate to Lebanon disaster relief (Tuesday, December 08, 2009)
During the next seven days, December 8-14, EHARNESS will donate all listing fees to the Lebanon Horsemen’s Disaster Relief Fund.
- Fair Board makes proposal to replace Lebanon barn (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)
The Warren County (Ohio) Fair Board has suggested building two smaller barns to replace a larger one destroyed by fire last December.