MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
A large brush fire scorched 25 acres on a farm in Rutherford County Thursday afternoon and burned a barn to the ground.
The blaze sparked in an area off Blackman and Baker roads, just west of Interstate 24 and north of State Route 840, around 12:20 p.m.
Fire officials said they had the blaze under control about 45 minutes later.
"I was told someone had lit a piece of paper and it blew out of his hands," said Rutherford County Fire Chief Larry Farley.
Melissa Batey, owner of Batey Farms, told Nashville's News 2 the fire destroyed a barn on her property that was full of hay and took out their soybean crop.
"This is a devastating loss because this is our livelihood," Batey said.
Crews from the Murfreesboro and Smyrna fire departments responded to the scene, in addition to the Tennessee Forestry Division.
A command center was set up at Blackman and Baker roads, and crews planned to remain on the scene throughout the afternoon.
At least one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Several Mid-State communities have issued burn bans due to the hot, dry conditions including Murfreesboro, Smyrna and Nashville.
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