Authorities still investigating cause of barn fire near Ottawa

Franklin County authorities are still investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a barn Friday night southeast of Ottawa.

Deputy Jerrod Fredricks, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said Tuesday the fire appeared suspicious in nature.

According to the sheriff’s office, the blaze was reported about 11:30 p.m. Friday in the 4000 block of Jackson Road. Fredricks said the loss of the barn was about $50,000 and that the fire caused an estimated $16,000 in damage to contents, including hay bales, inside the barn.