A historic North Whitehall Township barn at 2775 Willow St., was destroyed in an early morning fire May 27.

Schnecksville Fire Chief Ron Stahley spoke with The Press June 1 about the fire.

"Based on knowledge and construction of the barn, it was built in the early 1800s," Stahley said, adding the barn is owned by Lazarus Farms.

Stahley said a passerby noticed the fire around 4:53 a.m. and called 911.

"I was the first to arrive on the scene that morning," the fire chief said. "When I arrived, the barn was fully engulfed in flames."

Approximately 40 volunteer firefighters from Schnecksville, Tri-Clover, Neffs, Laurys Station, Greenawalds, Woodlawn fire departments and Whitehall's Rapid Intervention Team responded to the fire.

The fire was called under control around 10 a.m., Stahley said.

"We do not know at this point in time where the fire started and the cause of the fire is undetermined," Stahley said. "We are not ruling anything out as to the cause of the fire or where it started."

Stahley said there was electricity in the barn.

In addition, there were 100 tons of dry hay inside the barn since 1995, Stahley said.

"We had to get a backhoe and excavator from Mars Execavating to dismantle the barn for public safety reasons and to extinguish the fire," he said. "We had excellent cooperation from all the agencies, be the fire companies, PPL, the township, Northern Valley Ambulance, who stood by and Macungie Ambulance, which provided rehabilitation services."

"McDonald's in Schnecksville donated breakfast for the firefighters, who were happy for that," Stahley said, adding no one was injured battling the fire.