An overnight fire that killed more than 40 harness racing horses at a multimillion-dollar stable and training facility last night is a huge blow to the surrounding area of Puslinch, Ontario, local fire officials said this morning.

"This is devastating for our community. This is the highest loss that our community has faced by far," local fire Chief Steven Goode told CBC News. "It is a great loss. Unfortunately, none of the horses could be saved."

As he spoke to CBC News, Goode stood beside the still-smouldering ruins of the large barn destroyed by flames. He said that apparently a neighbour spotted the fire and called 911. 

The fire broke out at about 11 p.m. ET Monday at Classy Lane Stables Training Centre, about 15 kilometres east of Cambridge. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

(Standardbred Canada is reporting that the fire destroyed Barn 1, which housed horses trained by Ben Wallace, Roger Mayotte, Chantal Mitchell, Kris Di Cenzo, Dan Lagace and Floyd Amos).

Classy Lane is well known in Ontario's horse-racing industry. The facility has five barns and can accommodate 222 horses. 

Barb Millier, who owns the facility with her husband, Jamie Millier, is unsure exactly how many horses died, but estimates it was at least 43.

Jamie Millier also described the fire as "devastating," in a phone call with CP24, and said the horses were "like large family members to us."

About 50 firefighters from five departments, including Guelph, Hamilton and Cambridge, were called to the scene after the blaze broke out.

They arrived to find the barn fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked as water lines froze in –15 C conditions. With no nearby hydrants, water had to be trucked to the site — not enough to save more than 40 standardbred horses stabled in barn No. 1.

"This is a multimillion-dollar fire, the highest dollar loss that we've experienced in our township," said Goode in a news conference at the scene of the fire.

Classy Lane a key employer

Horses at Classy Lane race at some of southern Ontario's best-known tracks, including Woodbine, Mohawk and Flamboro Downs.

Classy Lane's website has a page with an extensive list of winning horses that stabled or trained there. Goode said the facility is a key employer in the community of less than 8,000.

Located on nearly 55 hectares, the website describes Classy Lane as 'a multimillion-dollar' operation.

Barb Millier, who is visiting Florida and spoke to The Canadian Press by phone, said firefighters were still on the scene Monday morning and it was too early to speculate on the cause of the blaze. 

She said her husband was trying to get a flight home as quickly as possible.

The Classy Lane website says the facility opened in 2003.

CBS News

Reprinted with permission of the www.cbc.ca/news site