Barn Burns to the Ground on Monday

A barn near Winchester burned to the ground Monday morning, Jan. 4. A tractor parked inside the barn was destroyed in the fire. Firefighters also discovered the body of a car among the debris. About 11 hay bales sitting nearby also caught fire and burned.

No one was injured, however.

The property was located just past the Bastrop County line on Unger Road. Smithville Volunteer Fire Department initially responded. Smithville Fire Chief Trey Clemons said the call came in around 10:01 a.m. Smithville requested mutual aid from Winchester VFD, which also responded.

Clemons said he did not know how the fire started.

Winchester Fire Chief Ed die Schneider said his department primarily supplied water to the Smithville firefighters. The Winchester firefighters also helped move hay bales that were stored near the barn.

Schneider said the property owners arrived around 11 a.m., but they did not know how the fire could have started. Bastrop County officials are leading an investigation.