Dozens battle barn fire north of Columbia

About 30 volunteer firefighters managed an enormous barn blaze northeast of Columbia Friday night.

The Boone County Fire Protection District said the barn, located on the 6000 block of Mexico Gravel Road, is a total loss. Battalion Chief Bruce Cutter said an engine leaving the Lake of the Woods station could see smoke rising from the tree line at least a half mile away.

Cutter said the first responding units found the barn’s owner, a Columbia dentist, running from burning structure, trying to remove items from it. Firefighters began a “defensive attack,” knowing no one was inside the completely engulfed barn. Cutter said they planned to contain the fire from spreading, and assess the damage when the fire was put out

A neighbor told ABC 17 News the barn had stalls for three horses and a zebra, but none of those animals were inside the barn at the time.

Cutter said they may never figure out what caused the fire, given the intense damage done to the barn.