HEBRON — The Boone County Sheriff's Department is now in charge of the investigation into the fire Thursday that destroyed the barn at Sandy Run Stable on North Bend Road and killed 29 horses.

        The blaze, which fire investigators said apparently started in the rear stall area of the stable, appeared to have been set, according to Hebron Fire Chief Dale Harshbarger. He said all other causes for the fire were ruled out.

        Major Jack Banks, commander of the sheriff's bureau of criminal investigations, said material collected at the fire scene by investigators has been sent to the Kentucky State Police laboratory in Frankfort.

        “At this point, it is premature to label the cause of the fire as "arson,'” Major Banks said Friday. “Our investigators are talking to horse owners and stable participants. The direction of the case will come when we get results back from the lab and look at all the interviews and evidence.”

        He said there were no suspects at this point, and no monetary loss figure.

        The fire, which destroyed the wood-and-steel structure housing the 29 riding horses, apparently started about 4 a.m. Thursday. When owner Jim Dolwick looked out the window of his nearby house at 4:15, most of the building was involved in flames.

        Sandy Run Stable is 9 years old, started by Jim Dolwick and his wife, Judy, when he retired from the Kentucky State Police. The business was considered one of the best boarding stables in Northern Kentucky.

        “It's very unlikely that anything accidental could have happened to start that fire,” Shirley Brown of Florence said. “Jim was so careful about everything and didn't allow any smoking in or near the barn.”

        Jim Dolwick said he hoped to be able to rebuild the stable and once again fill it with horses for all the people who are both his clients and friends.

        “This is a family business,” he said. “We're all part of the family.”

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