Update: Fire takes barn at rural Austin residence
Published 5:48 pm Wednesday, October 2, 2013
An Austin firefighter runs hose in front of burning barn at the residence of Daniel Borgen, 50718 195th Street Wednesday afternoon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin firefighters put water on the remains of a barn that burned at the residence of Daniel Borgen, southwest of Austin. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A fire Wednesday afternoon took at least one building and damaged another at a rural residence southwest of Austin.
Austin and Rose Creek fire departments responded to Daniel Borgen’s property at 50718 195th St. on a report of a barn fire. The structure was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived shortly before 4 p.m. Flames also got into a grove of trees surrounding the property, and Country Road 28 was temporarily closed. Nobody was injured.
“My dog acted weird,” Borgen said as he watched firefighters battle the fire. “Started taking a look and I heard fire crackling. It went fast.”
Borgen used the barn for wood storage, and no valuable items were lost, according to the Mower County Sheriff’s report. The barn is a total loss, however.
According to the report, and Borgen, a cigarette may have caused the blaze.
“(My) cigarette,” Borgen said. “Probably knocked the cherry off. There’s no electricity out here. It’s the only thing I can think of.”
