LINN COUNTY - Firefighters in Linn County say at least 30 dogs are dead after a fire Thursday morning.

The blaze started in a machine shed at 10901 Horseshoe Lake Road just east of Palo shortly after 7:00 a.m.

Four fire departments responded to the scene, where black smoke could be seen from miles away.

Corey Cooper, with the Monroe Township Fire Dept. says that at least 30 dogs were killed, and an unknown number of other animals. Firefighters say they're working with the Department of Agriculture to determine just how many animals died, but had to wait until the hot spots could be extinguished.

"Right now, the biggest problem we're dealing with is there's a lot of straw and hay in the structure. Once it gets in that, that's the biggest problem," said Corey Cooper, Monroe Township Fire Dept.

Firefighters say no people were injured in the fire.

Sherri Watson is a state licensed breeder who raised dogs at the property owned by her boyfriend Bill Wilson. Watson said she lost 16 Yorkies as well as some Standard Poodles and Brussels Griffons.

Watson said there were also goats, rabbits, peacocks, chickens and some other farm animals inside the building that burned. Watson believed an electrical heater or wiring used to keep water flowing for the chickens may have sparked the fire. Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Chief Larry McBurney didn't have an exact cause but also believed some electrical problem was the culprit.

(photo by Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

(photo by Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

(photo by Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)