Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton told the Associated Press the blaze was reported at 1:36 a.m. Friday by a tenant who lived on the horse farm near the small town of Bishop.
Thaxton said one of the 18 horses was able to get out of the barn, but was injured so badly that it had to be put down.
Glenn Allen with the State Fire and Insurance Commissioner's Office told AccessNorthGA.com state investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, but early speculation is that the fire was electrical in nature.
"Total loss to the structure, which includes a barn a truck and a trailer is going to be around $350,000," said Allen.
He said the animals were valued at more than $600,000.
No injuries to firefighters or those who lived on the property, other than the animals, were reported.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/1/270594