Center Firemen were called to a reported barn fire on Hwy. 96 south near Bounds Hill Monday afternoon around 4:30 p.m.

Fire Chief Keith Byndom says they arrived to find the owner of the property had already extinguished the blaze. He said the barn belonged to Center Police Sgt. Duane Gordon and Mrs. Gordon had put out the fire inside the barn by the time they arrived.

Chief Byndom said the source was apparently fresh shavings that had been spread on the floor of the structure that apparently became wet, combined with animal manure, and direct sunshine caused a spontaneous combustion.

Several 2x4s on pens were damaged by the fire.