On Wednesday, June 19, at approximately 1 a.m., the Great Bend Fire Department responded to the report of a hay bale on fire near Southeast 20 Road and Southeast 30 Avenue in rural Barton County. Crews arrived to find a large stack of hay fully involved in fire. Crews quickly determined that the approximately 250 bales of hay were a total loss.
Crews set up defensively to protect an adjacent stack of hay and a residence nearby. Crews remained on scene for several hours. This stack of hay will continue to burn for several days and will be monitored by the property owner and the Great Bend Fire Department. The initial cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike.
The Great Bend Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Barton County Sheriff's Office.
