Hay bale fire in Reno County could burn for days

PARTRIDGE, Kan. (KSNW) — Firefighters from across Reno County were called in to assist on a large hay bale fire early Monday morning.

It happened at a large hay shed west of Partridge near Longview and Herren Road. Crews were called to the fire around 3:30 a.m.

The Reno County Fire Department said they found an approximately 30-foot-tall stack of around 100 hay bales on fire, about 100 feet away from a large hay shed with more bales inside. There were burning embers drifting away from the fire and into the shed.

The department made a request for more tender (water) trucks to respond to assist. Reno County Fire Districts 3, 7, 8, 9, Pretty Prairie, and Hutchinson Fire shuttled water back and forth from the fire to help crews bring it under control.

“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,” said Reno County Emergency Management.

The department also thanks Miller Earthworks, who provided a large excavator that was able to spread the hay out to make it easier to get all of the flames under control. Reno County Fire says otherwise, crews would have had to haul water most of the day until all of the hay had burned off.

“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,” said Reno County Emergency Management.

The department warns people in the area will continue to see smoke as the fire is still burning, but it is under control.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been released. However, hay often spontaneously combusts.