CHAMPION, N.Y. -- There was no rest on Sunday for firefighters in eastern Jefferson County as a large dairy barn and milkhouse burned along Route 12.

The fire at the Nathan Weber farm in the Town of Champion destroyed both buildings and some equipment, but neighbors and family were able to get all of the milking cows out of the barn.

A number of departments from both Jefferson and Lewis Counties helped in the fight. The fire had already started to spread when firefighters first arrived.

"Copenhagen, we were dispatched to a fully involved barn fire, upon arrival on the scene heavy flames, heavy smoke and most of the barn was going,” said Mark Souva, Copenhagen FD.

Fire investigators are combing through the debris looking for a cause. State Route 12, the main highway from Watertown to Lowville, was closed for several hours as traffic was routed around the scene through the Village of Copenhagen.