VERNON — Multiple fire departments responded to a pole barn fire Saturday, March 18 on Route 26 north of Route 5. The building, which was used solely for storage, was expected to be a total loss, according to owner Mark Roberts.

No injuries were reported.

Roberts said the 30- by 60-foot barn held three freezers and four tons of coal at the time of the blaze. It is insured, he added. Flames also reached a tree between the barn and the house and it appeared some of the roofing on the house was warped by the heat, his wife Kathy Roberts said.

According to Roberts, at around 5:15 p.m. he looked out behind the family home and saw smoke coming from the barn. Then he saw flames and quickly got his family out of the house and heading to the home of nearby relatives for their safety.

The Vernon Fire Department was initially called out at 5:19 p.m. according to the Oneida County 911 log. Vernon Fire Chief Scott Nell said they then also called out the Vernon Center, Sherrill, Oneida Castle, Verona and Westmoreland departments as well as a tanker from Stanwix Heights.

The fire likely started near a sap boiler in the back of the barn, Nell said. Roberts had loaded wood into it about 20 minutes before he found the blaze and it is believed the door on the front of the boiler may have opened and burning embers were released into the barn, he said.