Nearly 20 animals died in a barn fire on Christmas Eve near Marengo.
The Marengo Fire and Rescue District responded to Block 8600 of South Route 23 in unincorporated Marengo at approximately 7:20 p.m. Saturday with a structural fire report.
Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Communication Specialist Alex Vucha said firefighters were on the scene within five minutes.
They found heavy smoke and fire visible from a 40-foot-by-40-foot pole barn at the back of the property.
Vucha said the alert was raised due to sub-zero wind chill and lack of hydrants in the area.
The Mutual Aid Box Alert System (MABAS) has been activated to the box alert level.
Firefighters put out the wind-powered fire within 45 minutes, but continued to extinguish the hotspot for an additional hour.
Vucha said about 20 animals died in the fire. Among them were chickens and sheep.
The barn and its contents are considered a total loss, with an initial estimated loss of $40,000. No other structures were damaged.
Fires are not considered inherently suspicious.
Wood stoves are being investigated as a possible cause, Vucha said.
The Woodstock, Harvard, Union, Genova-Kingston, Boone 2 and Hampshire fire departments have responded.
The fire continues to be investigated by the Marengo Fire and Rescue District.