12 horses, 2 dogs die in Depew barn fire

DEPEW, N.Y. (WBEN) - Twelve horses and two dogs died in an overnight barn fire at the S&L Ranch on Broadway Street in Depew.

According to multiple sources, four of the horses that died belonged to the barn owner and the others were boarded at the barn.

MORE: Official GoFundMe for barn owner

Firefighters said the barn was completely engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene just after 1 a.m.. No official word from authorities on how the fire started, but firefighters battled it throughout the night as the barn was fully stocked with hundreds of bales of hay.

"Horrible, horrible," an emotional Dawn Bulinski, who lost her horse Scire in the fire, said. "I've been here 15 years. (Scire) was born here. I've been here since my horse has."

Bulinski said she is very good friends with Martin Snyder, who owns the barn.

"I don't know what to do now," she said.

The community is now working to regroup following the tragic fire. Friends are in the middle of making a GoFundMe page to support Snyder, who doesn't have insurance. One friend of Snyder's said that he is in desperate need for 12 percent horse feed pellets and hay. The materials can be brought to 4447 Broadway Street in Depew at the S&L Ranch.

The Depew Fire Department was assisted by several surrounding fire departments including U-Crest, Lancaster Village, Twin District, Bellevue, Bowmansville and the Wyoming County Correctional Fire Brigade.

The @YourSPCA tells WBEN their information is that 12 horses and two dogs perished in the barn fire overnight on Broadway between Dick and Borden in Depew https://t.co/HjTqatSuJs

Seven horses are still alive and on the property, but there is now a long-term concern for their health because there is not an appropriate place for them to be in the winter.

Four of the horses that died belonged to Snyder.

Gina Lattuca  at the SPCA Serving Erie County was visibly shaken during her regular Friday morning appearance on WBEN.  "It's hard to even talk about. I'm familiar with it. We've watched these horses for years. It's horrifying."

The fire resulted in the closure of Broadway Street for several hours until 6:30 in the morning.