Clean-up continues at a horse stable in Woodstock.
The fire killed 32 horses Saturday night at Valley View Acres. Five horses made it out to the pasture to safety.
Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Chief Paul DeRaedt says the fire is not considered "suspicious."
"After further investigation, we feel comfortable through our interviews, as well as information gathered from the scene, that the fire started in the area where the hay was stored at on the second floor of the barn."
DeRaedt says determining an exact cause will be more difficult since there is so much debris. The damage is estimated over $ 1 million.
DeRaedt says fires like these are difficult to prepare for.
"They are nonetheless an experience we can draw from in learning about how these animals are cared for, how they live, and what we can expect to find as we start to unbury things."
DeRaedt says firefighters worked with horse owners to balance grief with safety. In one instance, an owner wanted to bring flowers to the stall of a lost horse. Since no one was allowed back into the structure, a firefighter was able to bring the flowers to the stall as they assessed the damage.
