Manorville horses unscathed in Long Island brush fire

After successfully relocating all 58 horses in her barn, Laurie Wolny was breathing a little easier Tuesday.

Wolny, 46, is the owner of Annie's Acres, a boarding and training facility in Manorville that was almost swallowed by flames Monday as dozens of people rushed to evacuate horses and pets.

The horses are safe, currently stabled at four different barns located from Medford to Riverhead, Wolny said, adding that the flawless evacuation wouldn't have been possible without the help of Long Island firefighters and the Long Island horse community, which sent a caravan of trailers to the rescue.

"It was amazing," Wolny said. "It's quite emotional when you think of what did happen and all the people who showed up."

Firefighters managed to stave off any serious damage to the property on Wading River Manor Road, and were still there Tuesday afternoon to tend to remaining smoldering hot spots.

Though part of the road was blocked off, Wolny and head trainer Nicole Murphy, 28, had been back and forth to the barn a few times to grab feed and other necessities.

"I don't think we're in the clear yet," Murphy said, adding the horses likely won't return for several days until everything is "absolutely safe."

Rich Devoe, who owns the Double "D" Bar Ranch in Manorville and takes in abused and abandoned animals, said he was surprised he didn't get more calls from barn owners Monday to help evacuate horses, though he added he personally doesn't have room to house them.

His barn was never in harm's way though, he said, and he hasn't had to worry about evacuating the 475 animals, including chickens and horses, from the 6-acre property.