A barn was declared a total loss after a fire broke out early Friday evening, Oct. 11, on Dreher Road in Jefferson Township. Joe Ferraro/Submitted photo

JEFFERSON TWP — A barn was declared a total loss after a fire broke out on Dreher Road early Friday evening, Oct. 11.

A call came in shortly after 5:40 p.m., according to Saxonburg assistant fire chief Mike Krchelich. No animals were in the barn, but the equipment was destroyed, he said.

By 7:30 p.m., crews were still extinguishing the fire, and an excavator was used to pull apart hay bales to prevent them from reigniting. Krchelich said the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Joe Ferraro, a neighbor who lives across from the property, said he was home when the fire started and called the owners, who were on vacation. He said they had been alerted about the incident moments earlier.

After assessing the damage, Ferraro said he saw flames on top of posts and hay on fire. The roof of the barn had caved in completely, he said.

Fire departments from Herman, Buffalo Township, East Butler, Oneida Valley, Worthington and Middlesex responded to the scene with Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company.

Fire crews are stationed near the scene of a barn fire Friday evening, Oct. 11, on Dreher Road in Jefferson Township. Irina Bucur/Butler Eagle

Fire crews are stationed near the scene of a barn fire Friday evening, Oct. 11, on Dreher Road in Jefferson Township. Irina Bucur/Butler Eagle