No people or animals were reportedly harmed in the fire that damaged a pole barn in Central Whidbey and required support from three different fire departments.

Around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a pole barn on fire located at North Quail Trail Lane near Coupeville and owned by a local couple.

Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Division Chief James Meek was one of about 16 firefighters on the scene. Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue and Oak Harbor Fire Department were both dispatched and were later joined by South Whidbey Fire/EMS to help with water supply, Meek said.

According to him, the building measured 30 by 40 feet.

Meek said it took a while to put the fire down and estimated it took between two hours and a half and three hours to get the fire under control. Because the building was reportedly seldomly used and there were no reports of people inside, firefighters were more cautious not to risk harm to themselves.

Though the building did not burn to the ground and its bones are still “in pretty good shape,” as Meek said, the whole structure suffered fire damage. The barn was used for storage, and its contents present some type of fire or smoke damage, he said.