SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Hours after a large fire engulfed several horse trailers at Liz Bolton Stables on North Twin Oaks Valley Road, a trio of young women stood guard at the horse ranch’s entrance, and said it is a very sensitive and emotional time after two people were killed in the fire.
They said all the horses were accounted for. One black horse stood in the stables not far from the burned remains of the metal horse trailers with yellow caution tape in front.
The fire was reported at about 1:37 a.m. Saturday at San Marcos Equestrian, 2635 North Twin Oaks Valley Road in the unincorporated area of San Marcos according to San Diego County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Greg Hampton.
San Marcos resident Alejandra Rodrigues, who was shopping for chicken feed with her son Vincent at the Deer Springs Feed & Supply store says she saw video of the fire posted on her neighborhood Facebook page.
"I didn't watch it for too long, but what I did see, yes, it was flames all over and you could see the skeleton of a couple of structures, it was a lot. I saw someone post in there about an explosion they heard in the middle of the night, so I wonder if perhaps that was something that was related to it,” Rodrigues said.
Overnight, firefighters taped off the equestrian ranch entrance. Smoke shot up for some time as people looked on. The horses were protected, and no injuries were reported, but after the fire was out, San Diego County Sheriff's deputies discovered two bodies. One person was found outside a toy hauler travel trailer, and the second person was found inside the trailer. Their identities or cause of death have not been released.
"I'm hoping that it is not anybody that we know, but even for people that we don't know, we still feel for the family and friends of those that died,” Rodrigues said.
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson unit is now working to determine what caused this large fire. Detectives do not believe it was a criminal act and say the fire appears to be accidental. No other nearby homes or structures were impacted by the fire.
News 8 reached out to Liz Bolton Stables for information regarding the two people killed but did not get a response.
The Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause and manner of their deaths, as well as identification of the bodies pending notification of family.
No deputies, firefighters or animals were hurt in the fire.
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