A barn fire occurred about 11 a.m. Monday at the home of John and Terri Geritz on Blackbeard’s View.

The fire killed several chickens and destroyed a truck and other items, said Steve Persche with the Bath Volunteer Fire Department, during a brief telephone interview Tuesday.

“It’s unknown at this time,” Persche said when asked if the cause of the fire had been determined.

Persche said he did not know if a formal investigation would be initiated.

The Geritzes were visiting relatives in the Midwest when the fire occurred.

About 20 firefighters with the Bath and Bunyan volunteer fire departments responded to the fire, Persche said.

The barn was fully involved when they arrived, and an adjacent field and trees were ablaze, too, according to one unofficial account of the fire. The Geritzes’ home and two other structures were not undamaged.