The public access on Buffalo Lake and parts of the Todd Britton farm turned into a fiery inferno Tuesday evening as a fire spread across an estimated 20 acres.

Black smoke from the flames could be seen more than five miles from Britton’s farm, which is located southwest of Janesville and borders the west-end of the Buffalo Lake public access.

The fire was reported around 7 p.m. and the Janesville Fire Department responded. The property damaged in the fire was a slough-like area without any buildings.

Britton said no one was injured and no structures were damaged in the fire. But a large ditch, recently completed by Ducks Unlimited, prevented the fire from spreading to nearby lake cabins.

Authorities said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but charred remains of an ATV were found stuck in the mud near the lake access and may have played a role in starting the blaze.