A more than century old barn that has stood the test of time was reduced to rubble in less than an hour this (Monday) morning, near Atlantic.

Fire fully engulfs the barn.

Firefighters from Atlantic and Marne were called to the fire at Indian Creek Farms at 57202 Indian Creek Street, at around 9:15-a.m. Doug Redinbaugh and his son Matt own the property. Doug told KJAN News he thinks the blaze started with an animal that ran from a burn pile a distance away from the barn.

The burn pile which likely resulted in the barn fire.

He says they were burning trees from last week’s storm at around 7-a.m.. Cats near the fire were on the prowl for mice escaping the fire, and it’s possible, according to Redinbaugh, that a raccoon living in the debris caught on fire and ran to the barn, catching it on fire. 

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon speculated that embers from the burn pile may have caused the blaze, but he acknowledged the winds weren’t very strong at the time the burn pile was ignited. The barn and its contents were a total loss. Doug Redinbaugh said they were using the wood framed and metal coated structure as a storage facility. 

He says hay racks, saddles, a dozen new drive tires for trucks were inside, along with antiques, which were stored in the upper floor hay mound. No injuries were reported.

(Ric Hanson/photo’s)