Early morning fire at ISU farm in Lexington

Posted on November 18, 2022
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Facebook/Lexington IL Fire Department)

By Neil Doyle

LEXINGTON – A fire broke out early Friday morning at the Illinois State University farm in Lexington.

Lexington Fire Department public information officer Captain Ian Bruckner told WJBC the fire was reported around 12:40 a.m. in the large 1,000 foot long cow barn, which is recognizable from Interstate 55.

The south half of the building, which also stores straw, is a complete loss. The north half the building appears to have been saved by suppression efforts, according to Bruckner.

Fire crews were still on the scene as of 4:45 a.m. as the south side of the building continues to smolder.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

With the below freezing temperatures, Bruckner said firefighters have been rotating through rehab to warm up, eat, and rehydrate.

Fire departments on scene include Lexington, Towanda, Chenoa, Gridley, Hudson, El Paso, Colfax, Cooksville, and Normal.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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