Barn in rural Dexter destroyed in early Monday morning fire

A barn in rural Dexter is being considered a total loss after being destroyed in an early Monday morning fire.

Mower County dispatch received a call regarding the fire at approximately 5:15 a.m. Monday morning from the 28000 block of 760 Ave. in rural Dexter.  Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik reported that deputies responded to the scene and found the structure fully engulfed in flames.  Fire Departments from Dexter and Brownsdale responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze.  Sheriff Sandvik stated that there were no injuries reported, and the barn did not contain any animals.  He went on to state that the structure is being considered a total loss, but there is no estimate of damage at this time.  

Sheriff Sandvik indicated that the cause of the fire is initially suspected to be a lightning strike during the early morning storm.