NJ Farm Staffers Traumatized Over Loss of Horses

The receiving barn at Perretti Farms was filled to capacity -- a dozen stalls with 12 mares and their foals -- when a fire broke out early this morning. The 24 horses never had a chance to escape as their stable burned to the ground. The Arson Squad of the New Jersey State Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutors office spent the morning looking through what little remained of the barn searching for clues. State police believe the fire was caused when an electric line that keeps water in the wall-mounted troughs from freezing ignited a center stall about 1:00 a.m. They say the wooden building, piles of hay and petroleum-based wood varnish quickly fueled the flames, and the animals were quickly overcome by the smoke. According to Anthony Perretti of Perretti Farms, “It was very upsetting. We started the farm with no money. It was a potato farm, a vegetable farm. And he built everything you see here, and this is kind of [my father's] baby, his dream.” The animals reportedly died quickly from smoke inhalation as their stable burned around them....