Emergency crews responded to a barn fire Monday morning, March 23, in Cherry Township. Four calves reportedly died in the blaze. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Four calves died in a fire early Monday morning, March 23, in Cherry Township, according to a responding fire chief.

The fire broke out just before midnight at the barn near 296 Hungarian Road, according to Butler County Emergency Services.

Crews arrived to find the barn fully engulfed, said Chief Ryan Hanchosky of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team. Crews began by focusing on keeping the fire from spreading, but the barn collapsed, according to dispatch.

Hanchosky said the homeowner was awoken by a neighbor beating on their door to report the fire. He said the fire could have been electrical or started by lightning due to severe storms in the area.

Crews were on scene for about an hour and 40 minutes, according to dispatch reports.

Responding agencies included the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team; the Marion Township, Harrisville and Unionville volunteer fire companies; the West Sunbury, Chicora, Clintonville, North Washington and Prospect volunteer fire departments and Butler Township Volunteer Fire District.