(La Porte County, IN) - A pole barn fire near Westville may have been the result of a wooden burner left unattended, according to authorities.

La Porte County Police said they arrived at the 7400 block of W. 500 South Thursday night to find smoke coming from a pole barn on the property.  The owner, Nathaniel Loeffler, told investigators he stoked the wood burner inside, then went back to his house and took a shower. About 20 minutes later, police said he looked out and saw smoke coming from the structure then ran inside and spotted the area above the wood burner on fire. 

Loeffler used a fire extinguisher and buckets of water to try and put out the flames. Police said firefighters from Westville arrived and extinguished the remainder of the fire.

Loeffler told us there was just minimal structure damage.