SYRACUSE — Four fire departments were needed this morning, July 3, to bring under control a barn fire north of town.

There were no animals in the barn and no one was injured in the blaze at 14986 C.R. 48, said Jason Dunlap, chief of the Benton Township Fire Department.

He said they are still investigating the cause of the fire, which brought a total loss to the barn.

Walter Steffen, owner of the barn, sat behind his house Tuesday morning looking as the firefighters worked to control the fire.

Steffen said he didn’t know about the fire until someone driving by saw smoke coming out of the barn and told him.

The only things in the barn were some tools, a Mercedes-Benz and hay, Steffen said.

The Benton Township, New Paris, Clinton Township and Syracuse fire departments all sent equipment and personnel to the scene.