FOWLER — Volunteer firefighters had no chance of saving a storage barn that went up in flames Sunday evening after being struck by lightning, but their efforts to save a larger nearby barn paid off.

Deputy St. Lawrence County fire coordinator Joe Lacks said the two structures on the William J. Siebels Jr. property, 285 County Route 22, were only about eight to 10 feet apart. The larger uninvolved structure was getting hot, he said, and Gouverneur firefighters, dispatched at 5:24 p.m., focused on saving that building.

Edwards, Harrisville, Oxbow and Antwerp units assisted.

Hay and old farm equipment were destroyed along with the old 50-by-30-foot two-story barn that quickly became engulfed following the lightning strike, Mr. Lacks said. The saved barn on this retired farm is also used for storage, he said.

There were no injuries. The loss is not insured.

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