Eddie Soto Sanchez is being hailed as a hero after he rushed into burning stables to save horses trapped in a fire in Colorado.
Flames and smoke are visible for miles. No need to call 911. Emergency crews are on scene. pic.twitter.com/KSr1PeoAAK
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) November 27, 2023
According to 9 News, Franktown’s Hidden Pines Farm stables caught fire early on Nov. 27. There were 14 horses were trapped in their stalls.
Sanchez is the property manager, and was awakened at 4 a.m. with the news that the fire alarm was going off.
He couldn’t leave the animals to burn. He said, “I ran to the barn, opened the doors, ran in and it’s dark.”
“A hot cloud of smoke just rushed out and then I realized it’s a fire,” he said.
Sanchez burned his hands as he attempted to get all of the horses freed before firefighters dragged him away from the blaze.
He noted, “I managed to pull away from the fire guy and went around to the other side of the barn, still trying to get my old friend Dave.”
“He was an older, retired horse. But once I opened the door, he didn’t come out,” he added.
Sanchez said, “I called his name, and he just wouldn’t answer it. At that point they told me there’s nothing you can do. I kept yelling at them that there were still horses in there.”
The loss of the horses has highly impacted Sanchez. He said, “I keep thinking what I could have done differently to make sure that I saved more horses than I did.”
“I keep going back to Dave’s stall. I see him there, and I’m like, ‘Buddy, I tried, and you know that I tried.’” he concluded.
Despite the loss, Sanchez managed to save four horses. He was taken to the hospital and treated for his burns.
He was discharged a few hours later and noted, “Physically I feel good.”
“My emotions just get all over the place,” he added.