ANDERSON — A late morning barn fire left firefighters with logistical challenges on Wednesday as 400 feet of extra hose had to be used to fight the flames.

The barn, located at 1319 East County Road 240 North, was located about 700 feet off the nearest roadway, keeping fire trucks carrying water at a distance.

Richland Township Battalion Chief Scott Pearson said his department relied on a tanker from Chesterfield-Union Township fire and assistance from Frankton fire to get the water out across the field to the fire.

A relay system that sent water from one tanker to the next with the help of 400 feet of hose helped to keep the flames under control.

Deputy Chief Jeff Stigall of the Richland Township Fire Department said firefighters received reports of the fire at 11:19 a.m. Within an hour, the fire was knocked down but firefighters were not yet done with the barn.

Approximately 20 bales of hay were stored inside the barn, Stigall said.

If firefighters left the scene when the fire was extinguished, they risked allowing hidden embers inside the bales of hay to flare up, Pearson said.

Firefighters brought in a backhoe to remove the bales of hay from the scorched barn and spread the hay out over the nearby field before dousing the hay with additional water.

No one was injured in the fire, which is still under investigation.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com.