Ohio Fire Marshal: 8 Horses Killed in Fire Caused by Arson

The state fire marshal has ruled that a barn fire that killed eight horses in eastern Ohio was arson.

Fire marshal’s spokesman Shane Cartmill says seven adult horses and a foal died in the Sunday night fire in McConnelsville in Morgan County. No people were injured. The barn was destroyed.

Cartmill says investigators are looking into messages that were painted on the barn prior to the fire. He would not disclose the content of the messages but says they were derogatory.

Authorities say owner James B. Whitehouse called 911 when he discovered the fire. Whitehouse’s telephone number was not immediately available.

Chief Gary Woodward of the Malta-McConnelsville Fire Department says the quarter horses were used mostly for show purposes.