Lightning is to blame for a massive barn fire outside Elmira this morning.

Police say crews responded around 2:20, to the farm on Listowel Rd, by Line 86.

The barn was completely destroyed, and thousands of animals inside were killed.

The barn itself is valued at more than half a million dollars.

More than 40-thousand dollars worth of cattle, pigs, and chickens died.

The road was closed for most of the morning, as firefighters battled the blaze.