Paul Schockemöhle's huge brood farm, Gestüt Lewitz in East Germany, has been plagued by multiple fires over the past two decades. Last weekend, bales of straw caught fire and it took the local fire brigade three days to extinguish it.
At the 3000 hectare big Gestut Lewitz in in Neustadt-Glewe, Schockemohle rears 650 foals a year and it stables 3500 horses.
Multiple Fires and Arson
In 2004, 3000 bales of hay caught fire and got ruined.
Between 2010 and 2012 there were three further incidents of fire at the stud 2010 an arson caused fire three times at the stud: first 4000 bales of hay burnt and three months later 10,000 bales of hay were destroyed. During a third incident, the culprit, 22-year old Fabian T, got caught red handed. He was found guilty in court and sentenced to five years in jail. His two accomplices were minors and were also convicted.
In 2018 an automatic feeder short-circuited and caught fire. There was damage for 300,000 euro.
Straw Bales
Last weekend, a 500 meter row of 20,000 straw bales caught fire on 8 September 2022 and it took the local fire brigade until Sunday evening to fully extinguish the fire. They had to pump water out of the Neustadt lake
No horses or humans got injured.
The cause of the fire is a lightning strike as the bales started to burn during a lightning storm.
"The firemen acted quick and with conviction to prevent damage to people and animals," Schockemöhle reported. "Our workers at Gestut Lewitz were very fast with their machines and gave it their all too. The dedicated and careful work of all people there was impressive. All worked very professionally, hand in hand, together."
Related Links
What's Happening: May 2018
What's Happening: February 2012 - Part 1
What's Happening: January 2011 - Part 2
What's Happening: November 2010 - Part 2