A Saturday morning fire that destroyed equipment and livestock in a barn in Marshburg, which is partly owned by Paul D. Morrisroe, remains under investigation.

The barn belongs to Morrisroe and Beth Ann Esch of 77 Sunny Lane, according to a statement from Trooper David Powell, a state police fire marshal.

No people were injured in the fire, but several animals died, including a cow, a pig, sheep and a number of chickens, said Fire Chief Don Fowler of the Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Equipment such as a couple of tractors and four-wheelers and lawn mowers were destroyed, Fowler said. Total damage and loss as a result of the fire is estimated at $75,000, Powell reported.

According to Powell, the fire was reported at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and firefighters arrived on the scene “to find the structure fully involved” in flames.

Fowler said the fire was called in by a neighbor, and multiple departments assisted in battling the blaze. Lafayette Township was the primary department, and “there was a tanker from Lewis Run and an engine from Bradford Township. Then I called in an additional tanker from Corydon Township,” he said.

Roughly 14 firefighters were on scene altogether, Fowler said.

While firefighters did not experience any unusual issues during the call, they stayed at the scene for quite awhile ensuring the fire was completely out, then waiting for the fire marshal to arrive to investigate.

“There were a lot of hot spots,” said Fowler. “We wanted to make sure it was out.”

Investigators did not say if they believe the fire was accidental or not. The investigation is ongoing, Powell said.

As District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer explained, “Consistent with standard procedure for any fire, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall Unit is investigating. Until the investigation is complete, the cause of the fire is undetermined.”

“It is believed that the barn is covered by insurance,” Powell added.

It was a garage owned by Morrisroe on Sunny Lane where police found a truck in 2015 that was  involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident; however, Shaffer indicated it was not that building that caught fire on Saturday.

“It is my understanding this barn was used to house various farm animals and small pieces of equipment and was located a short distance from any residence, garage and apartment building,” Shaffer said. “The fire resulted in the loss of animals, equipment and the structure itself. Fortunately, no injuries or damage to neighboring structures were reported.”

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact state police at 778-5555.

Morrisroe was convicted in January of being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he was operating a pickup truck that struck and killed motorcyclist Dakota Heinaman of Cyclone.

Morrisroe was sentenced Feb. 22 to 7½ to 15 years in state prison — he is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill. He is appealing the sentence. One of the three defense attorneys who represented him, James Miller of Smethport, is representing him on the appeal.