CHERRY TWP — A fire Friday afternoon destroyed a barn on Kiester Road.

The 30-by-30-foot wooden barn was on property owned by Ken Bennett at 916 Kiester Road.

A tractor and other farm equipment were destroyed in the fire. Also, a number of chickens died.

Bennett said two cows were able to escape the burning barn. He said there also were lambs inside, but he was not sure if they made it out.

“The door was open so they may have gotten out,” he said at the scene. “But we don't know yet.”

Two other nearby barns on his property were not damaged by the fire that was called in at 3:06 p.m.

“Fortunately, the firefighters got here in time,” Bennett said.

Slippery Rock Fire Chief Ken Taggart said the blaze was fully involved when firefighters arrived.

The barn had a stone foundation that remains, but the rest of it was destroyed by the fire.

“Everything collapsed,” Taggart said. “It took about 15 minutes to get the flames under control.”

The cause may have been electrical, Taggart said.

The barn and its contents were a total loss.

“Unfortunately, it doesn't take too long for a barn to go,” Taggart said.

Bennett said he was driving home about 3 p.m. when he saw the smoke as he was coming down the road.

“It had probably already been burning for 30 minutes,” he said.

Bennett said he was not sure exactly what all was in the barn.

“There was a lot of equipment in there,” Bennett said. “There was a nice tractor with a pull-behind mower.”

Bennett added the barn also contained family possessions.

“The attic had quite a bit family stuff,” he said. “That's all gone.”

Bennett said his family has owned the property for 165 years. He has lived there since 1999.

The barn, which was insured, was built in 2000. An estimated value of the damage was not available.

No one was injured.

Crews from Slippery Rock, Harrisville, Marion Township, West Sunbury and North Washington volunteer fire departments assisted at the scene.

Fire crews were done by 5:30 p.m.