A barn on a farm near Kenton was heavily damaged by fire Friday afternoon.

Clayton Fire Company received the emergency call about the blaze shortly after 3 p.m., on Holstein Drive off of Blackiston Road (Route 42) near Underwoods Corner Road.

With assistance by fire companies from Hartly, Smyrna, Townsend, Odessa, and Millington, the fire was brought under control by 5:32 p.m., according to the Clayton Fire Company’s website. Firefighters were on scene for a total of about three hours, said Deputy Chief Jeff Hurlock.

Because the fire occurred during the hottest part of the day, and temperatures reached 92 degrees on Friday, extra backup was called to the scene.

"That's why there were extra companies there - just to bring some extra people and rotate people out," Hurlock said. "If it weren't so hot, it probably would have just been us and Hartly."

Because there are no hydrants in the area, water had to be shuttled from Kenton in tankers and engine trucks to fight the flames, Hurlock said.

A front-end loader was used to move the smoldering hay in the 30-by-100-foot barn to make sure the fire was out. The barn, which was used to store straw and some older farm equipment, did not house any animals and no animals were injured in the blaze, Hurlock said.

Blackiston Road was closed for about three hours between Underwoods Corner Road and Chance Road, Hurlock said.

Middletown’s Volunteer Hose Company sent a fire truck to the Clayton Firehouse on stand by in case of another emergency in the Clayton fire district.

No information was available from the State Fire Marshal’s Office about the cause of the fire or an estimated dollar figure of the damage. More information will be added as it becomes available.