The Hays County Fire Marshal issued a release Dec. 4 ruling the fire and explosion at a Dacy Lane barn on Nov. 27 as accidental in origin.

Losses were estimated at $10,000, said the release which was sent by Fire Marshal Scott Raven to the county’s public information officer Laureen Chernow, who distributed it to area media.

Raven said a resident was smoking a turkey in a smoker with a difficult to close door, and that embers were caught by north winds and spread to the barn and a travel tra...