SEAGROVE, NC — A heartbreaking tragedy has left the Seagrove community in shock after a massive fire tore through Callicutt Stables on Sunday afternoon, claiming the lives of nearly three dozen horses.

Randolph County Emergency Services confirmed that 36 horses perished in the blaze, which reduced the 15,000-square-foot facility to a total loss.

“Fully Engulfed” Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 12:48 p.m. upon receiving reports of a structure fire. When units arrived, they found the massive barn already fully engulfed in flames.

The scene described by witnesses was chaotic and horrifying. Onlookers watched helplessly as terrified horses, desperate to escape the inferno, broke free and ran into the street.

A Grueling Battle Emergency crews battled the intense flames for five grueling hours before bringing the fire under control. despite their heroic efforts, the speed and intensity of the blaze made rescue impossible for many of the animals inside.

According to officials, 43 horses were housed in the barn at the time of the fire. Only seven survived.

Aftermath While authorities have confirmed that no humans were injured in the incident, the emotional toll on the stable owners and the local equestrian community is immense.

Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire. For now, the focus remains on the devastating loss of life and a community rallying around those who lost their beloved animals.