Sheldon, IA — A barn in rural O’Brien County was a total loss Thursday morning. Sheldon firefighters could see the flames two miles West of town on highway 18 as they left town around 6am. Boyden and Matlock fire departments were called in as backup and highway traffic was rerouted.

Fire Chief Brad Hindt says embers were blowing toward the house and other buildings at 4421 320th Street but it did not spread. They used 75 hundred gallons to douse the flames and were on the scene for about three hours.

The fire likely came from a nearby burn pile.