EAST GRANBY, Conn. -- A barn fire broke out late Monday morning in East Granby, incinerating $400,000 worth of tobacco, police said.

Police said the fire occurred at at the intersection of Route 189 and North Main Street at the barn owned by OJ Thrall Inc.

Massive Inferno Engulfs Tobacco Barn

"I had just gotten off (Interstate) 91," said Jim Dempsey. "I was coming back to work and I saw the black smoke, and I thought, 'Uh oh, not my office.' By the time I got here it was half engulfed in flames. By the time I parked it was all engulfed in flames, and standing on our porch you could feel the heat."

Eyewitness News Reporter Eric Parker said the barn was destroyed.

Crews said a propane tank at the barn was still burning late Monday afternoon.

"We're cooling the propane tanks themselves, and once they cool, the fire marshal's office will get in there and continue our investigation to find out where it did start," said Fire Marshal Kenneth Beliveau.

He said the fire department's planning to let the fire burn itself out, which could take all night.