Dozens of Horses Perish in Massive Seagrove Barn Fire

Feb 16, 2026

by Scott Pelkey

SEAGROVE — A devastating barn fire claimed the lives of over 30 horses on Sunday afternoon despite the efforts of nearly a dozen local fire departments.

The Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that emergency units were dispatched just before 1 p.m. to a large barn located behind Seagrove Family Restaurant on US HWY 220 S.

Initial responders from Seagrove, Ulah, East Side, Coleridge-Erect, and Star arrived to find a 15,000-square-foot structure heavily engulfed in flames. The scale of the blaze prompted a second alarm at 1:13 p.m., bringing in additional assistance from the Westside, Biscoe, and Westmoore fire departments.

According to officials, the barn was used to board a total of 43 horses. While crews battled the fire for approximately five hours in the cold rain, the structure was ultimately declared a total loss.

The Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed Monday that 36 of the horses boarded at the facility perished in the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office. No injuries to firefighting personnel were reported.

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Photo Courtesy East Side Fire Department –via Facebook