West Springfield, MA – Sprinkler system activated for barn fire at expo

The West Springfield Fire Department said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of a barn fire at the Big E that resulted in 161 horses needing to be evacuated on Friday night.

At around 11:45 p.m., firefighters responded to the C Barn after receiving calls about the fire, according to the department. They said that the sprinkler system worked successfully and contained the flames.

“Upon arrival, it was confirmed that the reported C Barn on the grounds had a working fire that required the immediate evacuation of the animals housed in the barn,” the department said.

The department added that “a total of 161 horses are safe and recovered with minor injuries” after escaping the fire at the festival.