Friends of a Middlebury couple are trying to raise funds after a barn fire killed several of their farm animals Tuesday morning.

The fire broke out just after 1 a.m. Tuesday on State Road 13 just south of State Road 120.

The homeowners told ABC 57 a neighbor woke them up about a half hour after the fire started and alerted them the fire was happening.

They tried to get at least some of the animals out but were unsuccessful when one of the horses ran back into the burning barn. That horse along with two others died, along with several goats.

Firefighters say the cause of the fire was the severe storms Monday, as they believe lightning hit the barn.

To donate to a GoFundMe page set up for the couple, click here.