A barn belonging to Herman Bates caught fire this morning around 12:30 a.m. on Happy Hollow Road in northern Limestone County, according to Elkmont Police Chief Donnie Johns.

According to a firefighter, Elkmont and Owens volunteer fire departments responded but it was already too late to save the barn or the hay bales that were inside. Once the fire was extinguished, the owner of the barn used a tractor to move the hay bales out so the firefighters could douse them to keep the fire from rekindling later in the night. Firefighters were on the scene for about 2 1/2 hours. About 13 firefighters responded. Johns said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.