Ames, Iowa – Firefighters are on the scene of a significant hay fire that broke out early Friday morning at a dairy barn on the campus of Iowa State University.

The Ames Fire Department was dispatched to the ISU Dairy Farm following reports of a blaze that is believed to have started around 12:45 a.m. Upon arrival, crews encountered a challenging situation with a large quantity of hay on fire within a barn structure.

Sources at the scene indicate that the fire is centrally located within the building, surrounded by a substantial amount of additional hay, which has made it difficult for firefighters to directly access and extinguish the flames.

In a collaborative effort, Iowa State University personnel were assisting fire crews by using heavy equipment to remove surrounding hay bales, creating a firebreak and allowing for better access to the core of the blaze.

As of early Friday morning, there has been no official statement from the Ames Fire Department or Iowa State University regarding the cause of the fire. The extent of the damage to the barn and any potential impact on the university’s dairy cattle have not yet been released.

The ISU Dairy Farm is an integral part of the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, serving as a key facility for teaching, research, and public outreach.

This is a developing story, and more information is expected to be released as it becomes available.