Four fire departments battled an early Monday morning fire that heavily damaged a 2,000 square feet pole barn that was used as a shop.
Owner Todd Donaldson of Homestead Lane off Winegarner and Tonti Road northwest of Salem discovered the fire just before two am when his dog began barking.
Assistant Salem Fire Chief Bill Fulton said upon arrival, a large part of the building was on fire. It had spread to the roof trusses which were beginning to fail. Tools inside the building were lost. There were no vehicles.
Fulton believes the fire may be related to the wood burning stove that had been used on Sunday. There were no injuries.
Salem called Odin, Kinmundy-Alma, and Patoka to the scene for additional water, but the fire was suppressed before additional water was needed. Kell Firemen stood by at the Salem Fire Protection District Station in the event of another fire.
The fire call came in at 1:52 am. Firemen cleared the scene at 4:34 am.
