A fire destroyed an abandoned barn near the intersection of South First Street and Keslinger Road early Wednesday morning causing $15,000 in damage.

“The occupant had a burn area going in another part of the property and embers caught the ear of the barn,” said Dave O’Donnell, captain of the DeKalb Fire Department.

Neighboring towns Maple Park, Cortland, Shabbona, Hinckley, Malta and Sycamore assisted the DeKalb Fire Department in ensuring the fire did not spread to other buildings and areas.

One firefighter was slightly injured, according to the fire report, and a part of First Street was shut down for several hours.