Lightning struck a vintage barn at the intersection of highways 2 and 27 and set it on fire during a thunderstorm July 30.
An Olds Fire Department (OFD) news release says property owners saw the lightning strike occur.
Fire Chief Justin Andrew says there was nothing in the barn when the blaze broke out.
The building, which dates back to 1908, had been restored recently. Fire officials say the value of the loss has yet to be determined.
"The barn was completely destroyed by the fire but the damage estimate has not been completed, due to the age and status of the building, Andrew says.
Olds firefighters were called to the scene at about 9:46 p.m.
Twenty-two OFD firefighters responded with two engines, a water tanker and a rescue unit .
Fire officials say when they got there, firefighters found the barn to be "fully involved in fire," so they undertook a "defensive attack" to prevent the fire from spreading to other adjacent structures.
Fire crews from Didsbury and Bowden were called to supply more water.
Crews had the fire under control within half an hour of arrival but remained on scene until 12 a.m.
