At 6pm on July 24th, a fire broke out at the main barn at Over The Hill Farm in Chinchilla, PA. Thirteen fire companies and over 100 firefighters responded, but by the time they arrived the structure was engulfed in flames. There were 29 horses in the barn at the time of the fire and 23 horses were lost. It took days to sort through the rubble and find loose horses in the surrounding area to get a final count. Of the 6 surviving horses, 3 were unharmed and 3 others are receiving 24 hour a day medical care. Like True Prospect, there was an apartment above the barn, and thankfully none of the residents were injured, but they lost everything in the blaze. The barn has numerous eventing ties, including event horses who were lost, and the owners, the Race family, are big eventing supporters in the area. You can read more about the fire at the [Abington Journal]
Two tax-deductible funds have been set up, and I’d like to ask us to come together once again as a community to support the recovery. The official fire fund is:
Over the Hill Fire Fund
C/O Crystal Tompkins
First National Bank
125 N State St.
Clarks Summit PA 18411
The Waverly PTA set up a fund as well for Jesse Sabatelle and his son Dylan, who lived in the apartment above the barn:
PTA Fire Fund
…c/o Waverly Elementary School
103 Waverly Rd
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
It has been a tragic two months for the eventing community, but I never cease to be heartened by the support we show to those who are suffering in the darkest of times. Thanks to Mary Clair Peairs for sending us the info on the funds. Go eventing.
