Reno County Emergency Management
RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Rural firefighters were awakened early Monday. According to Reno County Emergency Management at 3:30 a.m. Monday, Fire District #4 was dispatched to hay bales on fire at Longview and Herren Road.
Approximately 100 large square bales were on fire, stacked about 30 feet high.
The burning bales were less than 100 feet from a hay shed that was also full of bales. Embers were falling down into the hay shed, endangering the bales within the shed. A request for tender trucks was made from Reno County Fire Districts 3, 7, 8, 9, Pretty Prairie, and Hutchinson Fire. In total, 9 water tenders were used to shuttle water to the scene.
Approximately 70,000 gallons of water was used to protect the hay shed and its contents. A HUGE thanks goes out to Miller Earthworks for providing a large excavator that was used to push over the large burning pile of hay and spread it out. Without the use of the excavator, crews would have had to haul water most of the day until the pile burnt itself down.
There will be a large pile of hay burning at this location for several days and crews along with the land owner will be monitoring it.
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