MASON — Firefighters from four departments were at a local farm for several hours Tuesday as they attempted to extinguish several bales of hay that were on fire after the building they were in burned to the ground.

According to officials, an employee at the Ed Carson Farm on Carson Road in Mason had been putting up round bales of hay and had taken a break for lunch around noon when he parked some farm equipment in an equipment shed that also served as a storage area for hay and left for a few minutes.

When he returned, he found that the shed, along with the farm equipment and 140 bales of hay, was on fire. Owners called 911, who dispatched the fire department.

Several members of the Mason Volunteer Fire Department along with mutual aid station New Haven responded to put out the fire. Firefighters also received assistance from Flatrock and Middleport, Ohio, because water had to be transported to the scene.

All of the hay was destroyed by the fire, as was the farm equipment. A boat also was damaged during the blaze.

Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours putting out the hay bales that were still on fire and doing a cleanup to prevent a rekindle.

Also responding was an ambulance crew with Mason County Emergency Medical Services.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.