The owner of the barn said a gas cap from a tractor in the barn was missing, which leads him to think whoever started the fire may not have done so on purpose, but was actually trying to steal some gas.

"I think it's causing a lot of people to do things they wouldn't normally do. They're making choices that aren't the right choices, and this is the easy way to get gas. Steal it from someone else," said a neighbor across the street, who saw the flames first and dialed 911.

"Firefighters were able to stop the progression of the fire. However, it already destroyed the equipment and the hay within the building," said Boone County Fire Protection District Divison Chief Gale Blomenkamp.

One neighbor says, "I think the worst of it was the whole roof was engulfed in flames and you could see the rafters, you could just hear the crackling. And then there was a slight explosion, which to us sounded like a gun shot. We weren't sure what it was. But the whole thing within maybe ten twenty minutes was engulfed in flames by then."

Officials said the smoke should continue to billow for the next few days. Neighbors say they live out here for the peace, quietness and safety, but billowing smoke is a constant reminder, that it could have happened to anyone.

The Boone County Fire Department hasn't confirmed whether the person who started the fire was looking for gas. The case is now in the hands of the Sheriffs Department.