LODA —The State Fire Marshall is investigating two barn fires near Loda.. Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police and the Loda Fire Protection District report the barns were just a quarter mile apart from each other on County Road 300 N.  The Loda Fire District answered the call shortly after 8 pm Wednesday.  Firemen found the barns fully engulfed.

The property owner, Eric Kaeb, was not home at the time the fires started on his farm.  A neighbor reported one of the fires.  The other fire was reported minutes later by a passerby.

Loda firefighters received mutual aide help from Buckley, Paxton, and Cissna Park.  Firefighters remained on scene until about 1 a.m.

Both barns were destroyed, according to Loda Fire Chief Harold Ecker.  The cause and origin of the fires remains undetermined.

Meanwhile…Iroquois County Crimestoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Tips can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 815-432-7463 or calling Starkey at 815-432-6992.

94.1 FM, WGFA