A local man learned a difficult lesson on when not to burn brush after a barn caught fire on the property he rents in the 8700 block of Nicholson Road at 3:27 p.m. May 29.

Randy Kroes told police he started a brush fire and was using a garden hose to keep the fire under control. After he went to sharpen some mower blades and came outside, he realized the fire had gotten out of control, according to a report by the Caledonia Police Department.

Officials said the fire was reported and it produced two fire locations: a barn and side buildings.

The Caledonia Fire Department responded to a call about a fire in a barn and adjacent buildings. Members of the Oak Creek Fire Department were called in to assist with the fire in the field across the street.

The barn was a total loss.

Flames had also spread to a nearby field, but that fire was contained and extinguished less than an hour after fire fighters arrived on scene.

By 4:10 pm, the barn was a total loss, but the nearby field was under control and nearly extinguished.

A Caledonia fire fighter was treated at the scene in a department medical unit, but was not transported to the hospital. There were no other injuries reported.

Kroes was cited for open burning restrictions and open burning restrictions – atmospheric conditions.