Two horses killed after fire engulfs Lakeland Village barn in Riverside County

Two horses were killed when a fire broke out at a barn in Lakeland Village, a census-designated community in Riverside County, on Wednesday. 

Firefighters were dispatched to the intersection of Brechtel Street and Grand Avenue at around 3 p.m. after learning of the blaze, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. 

They arrived and found a bar that was engulfed in flames. 

Crews quickly prevented the flames from spreading into surrounding brush, all in the midst of strong Santa Ana winds that were gusting through the region. It was completely extinguished by 3:10 p.m. 

While inspecting the aftermath of the fire, firefighters found that two horses stabled at the property died from exposure to the fire. It's not clear if they died from smoke inhalation or if they were burned. 

Firefighters also reported that a natural gas line was damaged during the fire, resulting in requests for SoCal Gas Co. technicians on scene. 

There was no known cause for the blaze. 

Social media posts showed that smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away by drivers on the I-15 Freeway running through nearby Lake Elsinore.