Massachusetts Eversource employee helps save horses in massive barn fire: ‘Natural instinct’

Eversource employee John Cox didn t make it to his assignment in Dedham While en journey from the company s office in Walpole Cox says he noticed a glow coming from a spacious field It just didn t look right Cox commented adding that he then spotted a barn When I took a closer look I could see fire going across the whole roof at that point Through the windows I could see two silhouettes of a horse Cox is sharing his experience of being the first person on the scene of a two-alarm fire at Mor Linn Farm a boarding and training stable that has served Walpole and surrounding towns over the years Cox nearing four years with Eversource promptly laid on his truck s horn before jumping on his phone to call to overview what he was seeing He was just minutes into his shift last Tuesday night when he came across the scene There s a barn fire it s fully engulfed Cox recounted of his phone call while speaking with the Herald on Thursday I don t see anyone out here I don t know if anyone knows it s happening He then decided to jump out of his truck screaming By the time he reached the front door of a home on the property the homeowner was coming out Cox and the homeowner ran into the two-story barn with the homeowner s son following behind The horses were kind of going bananas Cox mentioned They were jumping around and making a ton of noise They were scared Every time I opened the stall door the horse wouldn t come out he added They were just keeping backing up screaming and jumping around Eight horses died in the blaze while Cox and the homeowners saved others that have relocated to other stables in the area The barn has been declared a total loss The cause of the fire remains under inquiry I ll be honest with you it was not for a lack of effort Cox declared of not being able to save all the horses He explained that the homeowner ran up to the second floor of the barn and saved one of the horses in an area Cox reported he did not feel peaceful moving to At that point he declared I was screaming for the homeowner to get out It was just getting too hot I was almost on my knees I couldn t see the horses because it was just so smoky Cox is a lineworker and troubleshooter for Eversource a job that requires him to wear clothing he noted is fireproof Before leaving Walpole for the previously scheduled Dedham assignment he mentioned he put on all of his gear given the rain and thunderstorms slamming the area providing him a sense of safety You hear these animals calling for help Cox reported I m not a big animal person I m truly allergic to nearly every animal but when you hear that noise and when anyone is helpless you just try to help out It was just a natural instinct to run in there and help them he added and honestly help the homeowners I could see the panic in his face his anxiety was through the roof as well The Walpole Fire Department received mutual aid from Norwood Westwood Norfolk Medfield Foxboro Sharon Canton Dover Mansfield Wrentham and Stoughton to battle and eventually extinguish the blaze The Kennedy family is devastated by last night s fire at our beloved Mor Linn Farm the owners noted in a declaration on Wednesday Our hearts are broken by the loss of eight horses We are grateful for the incredible response of the fire department and first responders from Walpole and surrounding towns who worked so hard to help contain the flames We thank the area for their outpouring of advocacy The society has rallied together in the fire s aftermath A GoFundMe organized to help the family has collected more than donations accumulating over They are an incredible family organizer June Gillis-Ahern states on the fundraising page and the love they have for their horses is immeasurable This family is facing a large number of challenges in the short and long term A barn at Mor Linn Farm a boarding and training stable in Walpole has been destroyed by a two-alarm fire Courtesy John Cox A barn at Mor Linn Farm a boarding and training stable in Walpole has been destroyed by a two-alarm fire Courtesy John Cox Photo By Matt Stone Boston HeraldA makeshift memorial near the site of a -year-old barn at the Mor Linn Farm were eight horses were killed in a fire this week Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald