Nicolaus fire destroys hay, 70-year-old barn

A fire in south Sutter County destroyed a 70-year-old barn and a large stockpile of hay on Friday. No one was injured.

Glenn Owens, 71, was standing in his barn south of Nicolaus, taking care of hay when he saw the fire break out at about 5 p.m.

"I looked over my shoulders and saw a wall of flames," Owens said.

Click here to see more photos from the barn fire.

He quickly left the structure as it was engulfed. Owens estimated the blaze destroyed $50,000 to $70,000 worth of hay. He said he hopes his insurance will help cover the loss.

"My husband loved that barn and hay," said Glenna Owens, Glenn Owens' wife of 52 years.

The Owens have owned the barn and surrounding 115-acre property for 37 years. The barn has been there for 70 years,

The fire was contained to the barn and a few outside vehicles, but Sacramento City Fire Battalion Chief Jonathan Williams said the blaze could burn for days, consuming stacks of hay.

Firefighters planned to stay on the scene to monitor the blaze to ensure wind would not cause the fire to spread to surrounding structures.

Sacramento City and Metro Fire Departments responded to rural Sutter County, in addition to the East Nicolaus, Pleasant Grove, Sutter County, and CalFire Placer County departments.