Seven area fire departments responded Sunday afternoon to a hay barn fire on County Road 225, about five miles south of Brownwood and a quarter miles off the county road.

According to Brownwood Fire Marshal, Buddy Preston, the call came in at 12:30 pm as hay on fire underneath a barn.  Firemen arrived to find an open sided covered large barn with 180 round bales of hay on fire.

The fire was contained to the barn area, the bales separated and allowed to burn out.  Heat building up in the bales is thought to be the cause.

Winchell, Brownwood, Early, Lake Bridge, Lake Dam, Bangs and Brookesmith fire departments all responded to the call.  The last fire unit left the scene at 9:03 Sunday night.