No known motive

At least two dozen horses are dead following an arson attack. A fire engulfed a barn at the Tioga Downs Casino Resort in the early hours of Thursday morning, leading to the fatalities. A man was taken to hospital after suffering second-degree burns while trying to save the animals alongside other staff members. The authorities first got word about the blaze at 6:34am.

charging the 32-year-old with four felonies

Police arrested Boyd Fenton on suspicion of setting the fire at the New York facility, charging the 32-year-old with four felonies relating to arson, burglary, criminal mischief, and assault. Video footage shows some of the destruction:

A harrowing incident

Investigations into the incident continue and it is still unclear what the motive was for starting the blaze. A crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help the people who lost horses is now past its initial $50,000 goal and over the $85,000 mark.

The horses that died in the fire were undergoing winter training at the Tioga Downs Racetrack. Commenting on the disaster, American Racing & Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gural said “We are deeply saddened by today’s tragedy, it was a loss no one could have imagined or expected.” He went on to thank the first responders who rushed to the scene. New York State Police in a statement offered condolences to the people who lost an animal in the fire.

Animal cruelty

The incident has led to an outcry from a number of circles. Animal rights organization PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo called for the arsonist to be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

insurance fraud or pure malice”

She urged the authorities to include animal cruelty charges because the animals need consideration as part of any prosecution. The only possible reasons for the attack in Guillermo’s mind are “insurance fraud or pure malice.” Petitions are doing the rounds on Change.org to push for these additional charges.