A juvenile is being blamed for a fire that destroyed the Stuart Sale Barn Sunday night. Stuart Police late Monday afternoon said their investigation determined that a juvenile entered the structure at some time prior to the fire. The juvenile used a cigarette lighter to ignite a bale of hay. The juvenile then attempted to extinguish the fire but was un-successful. The fire was never reported to authorities by the juvenile. Evidence located at the scene and statements from witnesses and the suspect have been corroborated. The juvenile has been identified and is cooperating with officers.
Due to the suspect’s age, the case will be referred to juvenile court for any criminal charges and the name and information related to the juvenile will not be released to the public.

The incident began to unfold at around 6:41-p.m. Sunday, when two Stuart Police Officers received a report of smoke coming from the Stuart Sale Barn at 523 E. Front St. Officers requested that the Stuart Fire Department be dispatched while they were in route to investigate the smoke. Upon arrival Officers discovered a fully involved structure fire, with flames and smoke visible to approximately ¾ of the building.

Officers checked the windows and doors to determine if the structure was occupied and then began traffic control on Highway 6, which is directly in front of the building.
The Stuart Fire Department arrived approximately 4 minutes later and began fire suppression operations. Fire Departments from several surrounding communities were called in to assist. Unfortunately due to the size of the fire, the responding departments were unable to stop the spread of the fire to the remaining parts of the structure. The fire department remained on scene until approximately 10:10-p.m

Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, the Stuart Police Department and Stuart Fire Department requested that the Iowa State Fire Marshall’s Office be notified.
At approximately 8-a.m. Monday, Iowa State Fire Marshall Investigators arrived and began an investigation of the scene. The Stuart Police Department then took lead of the investigation.

Stuart Fire Chief Mark Renslow told KJAN News about a dozen or so goats died in the blaze. The owner of the building has said he will rebuild, and that until that happens, a tent will be erected in the parking lot for upcoming sales.