Two Dead in Lebanon Raceway Fire

LEBANON: Officials have recovered a second body on a barn fire at Lebanon Raceway this morning, and approximately 60 race horses are dead at the Warren County Fairgrounds.

The fire raced through the 250-by-80 ft. structure this morning at 665 North Broadway St., in Lebanon.

Two workers at the raceway were reported in the barn at the time of the fire. The two workers are confirmed dead.

One victim is an adult male, but the second victim's sex and age is not known at this time.

"It's bad. It is really really bad, "said Shane Cartmill, spokesperson for the Division of State Fire Marshal.

The barn, one of 19 at the raceway, was engulfed in flames when fire fighters arrived about 5 am The barn has the capacity to house about 80 horses.

Cartmill said the number of animals Perished ranks up there with one of the most tragic animal loses in a single incident in the state's history but it is not the worst.

They cited a Northern Ohio fire about a year ago that killed roughly 100 head of cattle.

Still Cartmill was Shaken by the scene and said the loss of animal life and human life in the same incident is very uncommon.

Just before noon - some seven hours after the fire was reported a steady stream of smoke wafted over the heap of metal and burned horses. Many horse owners and workers Stood nearby shaking their heads in sadness.