Three buildings destroyed when tractor catches fire near Randalia

Three buildings were destroyed Monday afternoon in rural Fayette County after a tractor spontaneously caught fire, officials said.

Firefighters responded around 2 p.m. after a passerby called in the fire at 14542 160th St., near the tiny town of Randalia. According to Fayette Fire Chief Jason Rohde, the fire spread to a small garage, a machine shed and a small hog house but did not reach the house. No livestock or humans were injured, but all three buildings were a total loss as a result of the fire, Rohde said. No one was at the property at the time of the fire.

"I believe it was an electric short in the tractor," Rohde said.

According to Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher, no one is living at the residence at the present time.

The Fayette Fire Department was assisted by the West Union, Hawkeye and Maynard fire departments. The crews were there until around 7 p.m.