A large machine shed and several pieces of farm equipment were destroyed by fire Tuesday night in rural Clay County.
According to the Xenia Fire Protection District, firefighters were dispatched at approximately 7:55 p.m. to the 1500 block of Lion Lane following a report of a machine shed on fire.
Upon arrival, fire officials discovered a 40-by-60-foot machine shed with flames coming from the rear wall and roof of the structure.
Due to the size and intensity of the blaze, mutual aid was requested from the North Clay Fire Protection District.
Firefighters encountered several challenges while battling the fire, including limited access to the building, multiple pieces of farm equipment stored inside, and several explosions during the early stages of firefighting operations.
Despite the efforts of responding crews, the machine shed and its contents were declared a total loss.
Equipment destroyed in the blaze included a combine, tractor, planter, seed drill, grain truck, and other miscellaneous items. A grain cart parked outside near the building was also destroyed.
The Xenia Fire Protection District responded with 14 firefighters, two engines, a tanker, and a brush truck.
The North Clay Fire Protection District provided mutual aid with 26 firefighters, a tanker, equipment truck, and squad.
A total of 40 firefighters from the two departments assisted in the response, with crews remaining on the scene for approximately two and a half hours.
Fire officials believe the blaze originated with one of the pieces of equipment parked inside the machine shed. No official determination of the cause was reported.