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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. --
Investigators with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation are looking for the person or persons who caused a weekend arson that killed 12 horses, a goat and several chickens at a private corral in Commerce City.
Commerce police spokesman Lt. Dennis Moon said the makeshift horse shelters were engulfed in flames when the South Adams County Fire Department arrived Sunday at about 3:15 p.m.
Witnesses said the scene was horrific, as the horses screamed as they were burning to death.
"It was pretty sad, especially being one of the first ones here. Seeing the live animals in there they just couldn't get out," said Deputy Fire Marshal Kevin Vincel, with the South Adams County Fire Department.
What makes it worse was that the fire was deliberately set, Vincent said.
Investigators on Monday found three separate ignition points outside of the corrals. A K-9 trained in the detection of accelerants determined that an accelerant was present, Commerce City police said.
Felipe Quezada, whose father built one of three stalls in 1985, lost three horses in the fire.
"This is where my son rode his first horse. My daughter came here, rode horses. It's just a family thing, something that runs through our blood," said Quezada.
He wants whoever is responsible prosecuted to the fullest extent.
One man who ran into the stables to rescue his horse suffered from smoke inhalation and had to be transported to Denver Health, neighbors said. Antonio Robles rescued his horse but then collapsed outside from smoke inhalation, property owner said.
Fire officials say several people lease the property from the person who owns the business next to it. Investigators have been interviewing all of the animals' owners, as well as neighbors of the property, located on Uinta Street and 84th Avenue in northeast Commerce City.
What's making the investigation difficult is that there was about 100 people on the property when fire trucks arrived Sunday, Vincent said. Neighbors who saw the flames drove over to help and boarders who heard about the fire rushed to the scene to rescue their animals.
Officials haven't named a suspect yet and don't have a description of the person they are looking for.
The person responsible for the fire could face charges of cruelty to animals and first-degree arson, which carries a penalty of four to 16 years in prison.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Commerce City Police Department at 303-289-3626.
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