Barn burns at Amish farm near Northwood - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (KTTC) -- Firefighters from Northwood responded to the scene of a raging barn fire on 500th Street just south of the Minnesota-Iowa border Thursday morning.  But by the time they arrived there was little they could do.

An Amish family lives at Maple Nook Farm, and firefighters were summoned by a neighbor's phone call for help about 9:30.  Smoke could be seen from miles away.  By the time the volunteers from nearby Northwood got there, Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Hanson said the roof had collapsed and the barn was completely engulfed. Two sheds attached to the main barn were also destroyed.

No one was hurt in the fire.

Hanson told NewsCenter's Courtney Sturgeon on the scene that the fire seemed to have started in the southwest corner of the barn, possibly near a wood stove in the milk house. He said the Amish farmer didn't realize the barn was on fire until it was engulfed and then did his best to save the animals inside.  Most of the animals were rescued, though some were killed in the blaze.

Word spread quickly through the community, and neighbors rushed to help.

Firefighters from nearby Kensett also assisted on the scene.