(AP) — Authorities are investigating a barn fire near Beatrice that killed two horses inside.

Beatrice Rural Fire Chief Jim Engel says firefighters were sent to the scene at about 3 p.m. Thursday. They left several hours later.

The large barn east of the Beatrice Country Club was a horse arena with stables and storage space. There is no estimate yet on the cost of damages.

A Nebraska Fire Marshal deputy is investigating the cause of the fire.