ARSON SUSPECTED IN BARN FIRES THAT KILLED 5 HORSES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 13, 1993                   TAG: 9303130265
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: WARRENTON                                LENGTH: Short
ARSON SUSPECTED IN BARN FIRES THAT KILLED 5 HORSES
Suspected arson destroyed eight barns and caused the deaths of five horses, prompting some Fauquier County residents to arm themselves to protect their property, Sheriff Joe Higgs said.
"The mood is very angry right now," Higgs said. "People are going to protect their livestock, but we're asking that they not do anything irrational."
The fires were set within two hours early Thursday across a 20-mile swath of countryside that is home to many owners of thoroughbreds and steeplechase horses.
"Whoever did this knew where they were going and knew there were horses in there," Higgs said. "This was an intentional act by a very deranged person."
He said authorities had no suspects in the fires.
The first three fires destroyed empty barns, but the fourth, believed to have been set about 1 a.m., was at a barn that housed one horse. The fire spread to an adjacent stable that held eight horses.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB