Large fire in Xenia Twp. destroys metal barn, straw and tractor inside

Fire destroyed a large amount of straw, a tractor and the metal barn in Xenia Twp. where those items were being stored, the fire chief said.

>> Fire destroys large barn in Union; investigation begins

Xenia Twp. firefighters are working to determine what led to the blaze on the farm in the 500 block of Clifton Road the chief said caused an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 in damage to the barn, the straw and the tractor.

There were no injuries.

Crews dispatched about 7:25 p.m. found a 50-foot by 60-foot metal barn, filled to the rafters with straw, that was showing heavy smoke.

Crews were still on scene at 9:30 p.m., pulling what’s left of the straw out of the barn because it continues to smolder and could ignite. The dollar loss in straw alone was estimated at $15,000, the chief said.

A second barn and two silos were still standing. We're working to learn whether those structures were damaged.

The barn fire in Xenia Twp. is the second one Monday, as another large barn on Furnas Road in Union burned to the ground earlier in the afternoon. There were no injuries in that fire, which also is under investigation.

We will update this developing report as we learn more.