JUDA - Fire destroyed a large barn Wednesday in the 1600 block of County K, at the farm of Curtis and Sharon Newcomer, Juda.
The fire apparently began as a result of stray embers from a controlled grass fire that was believed to be out about an hour earlier.
Brodhead Fire Chief Jay Bohan said the barn was completely engulfed when he arrived on the scene.
"There was no chance of saving it," he said.
Bohan said the owner told fire crews not to worry about saving the barn or anything in it.
"He said not to worry, there was nothing in the barn to save; and (he) told us 'don't hurt yourselves,'" Bohan said.
According to Bohan, owner Curtis Newcomer said he checked both floors of the barn for any signs of fire from stray embers after he extinguished a controlled grass fire.
Newcomer then went into the house to shower. About one hour later, a UPS truck driver came to the house and told him the barn was on fire.
The call came in to firefighters at about 3:15 p.m. The departments were still on the scene at about 5 p.m. Bohan said they would probably remain for another two hours.
Firefighters from Brodhead, Juda and Albany, Brodhead EMS, and Juda Fire and Rescue responded to the call.
Firefighters maintained control of the fire, protecting the nearby home and a silo, as well as controlling fire in the pasture east of the barn. About two to three acres of pasture was burned.
Embers from the barn blaze did set fire to a field of corn stubble to the south, across County K. Bohan said it was small, and firefighters quickly extinguished it.
Newcomer was injured in the incident, but remained on the scene.
Area firefighters were busy Wednesday afternoon and into the evening, with no less than six calls for grass fires out of control across the county.
Monroe Fire Department was not able to lead the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was scheduled to begin at 5:17 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Monroe.
The department was called out just minutes earlier to a grass fire on Aebly Road. A fire in a ditch had gotten out of control and was headed for a wooded area, according to the call from the Sheriff's dispatch.
The fire apparently began as a result of stray embers from a controlled grass fire that was believed to be out about an hour earlier.
Brodhead Fire Chief Jay Bohan said the barn was completely engulfed when he arrived on the scene.
"There was no chance of saving it," he said.
Bohan said the owner told fire crews not to worry about saving the barn or anything in it.
"He said not to worry, there was nothing in the barn to save; and (he) told us 'don't hurt yourselves,'" Bohan said.
According to Bohan, owner Curtis Newcomer said he checked both floors of the barn for any signs of fire from stray embers after he extinguished a controlled grass fire.
Newcomer then went into the house to shower. About one hour later, a UPS truck driver came to the house and told him the barn was on fire.
The call came in to firefighters at about 3:15 p.m. The departments were still on the scene at about 5 p.m. Bohan said they would probably remain for another two hours.
Firefighters from Brodhead, Juda and Albany, Brodhead EMS, and Juda Fire and Rescue responded to the call.
Firefighters maintained control of the fire, protecting the nearby home and a silo, as well as controlling fire in the pasture east of the barn. About two to three acres of pasture was burned.
Embers from the barn blaze did set fire to a field of corn stubble to the south, across County K. Bohan said it was small, and firefighters quickly extinguished it.
Newcomer was injured in the incident, but remained on the scene.
Area firefighters were busy Wednesday afternoon and into the evening, with no less than six calls for grass fires out of control across the county.
Monroe Fire Department was not able to lead the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was scheduled to begin at 5:17 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Monroe.
The department was called out just minutes earlier to a grass fire on Aebly Road. A fire in a ditch had gotten out of control and was headed for a wooded area, according to the call from the Sheriff's dispatch.