Large Fire Destroys Barn Near St. Martin

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Authorities are investigating after a fire destroyed a barn in central Minnesota.

On Monday afternoon, authorities responded to a barn fire located 6 miles southwest of St. Martin.

Barn owner, Randall Hemmesch, 62, of Paynesville, was not home at the time of the fire. The barn was declared a total loss.

The barn contained about 5,000 bails of hay/straw. No cattle or animals were inside the barn during the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.