NORWICH TOWNSHIP, Ont. - Provincial police say nine horses have died in what has become the latest in a string of barn fires in southwestern Ontario.

Oxford County OPP said the blaze took place on Saturday morning on an unidentified property in Norwich Township.

They say the fire, which does not appear to be suspicious, completely destroyed the barn and killed all nine horses inside.

This is the latest in a spate of fires to level barns and kill livestock in Ontario this year.

About 90 cows died earlier this month at a barn in Elgin County.

Five unrelated fires in January claimed more than 2,000 pigs, 500 goats, 30 cows, nearly 50 horses including 43 racehorses, and a barn full of chickens.