(Graettinger)– Authorities are investigating the cause of two fires over the weekend in Palo Alto county that destroyed a garage and a barn, killing some livestock.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says the first blaze was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday at 701 First Street in Cylinder. Authorities say an unattached garage was engulfed in flames, along with a car parked outside it. Firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to a nearby house and other structures. The garage, its contents, and a 1998 Mercury Sable…all owned by Donald Laubenthal of Cylinder…were a total loss.
Authorities were called to another fire shortly after 2:00 p.m. Sunday at 4076 290th Street south and west of Graettinger. Upon arriving Graettinger firefighters found a steel barn engulfed in flames. The Ruthven Fire Department was then called for assistance and the Graettinger ambulance stood by as a precaution.
Authorities say the barn contained several species of animals, some of which were removed by the owner, Diane Montez.
The barn was a total loss.
It wasn’t immediately known how many animals perished in the blaze.
The total loss and cause of each blaze weren’t immediately known.
No injuries were reported in either fire.
