Nearly two acres of hay fields and farming equipment were damaged significantly in a fire Monday at a Bargersville farm.
The Bargersvile Community Fire Department responded to a large hay fire about 2:30 p.m. Monday at County Road 700 W and Division Road in Bargersville.
When firefighters arrived on scene, a hay baler, tractor and nearly 2 acres of hay fields were up in flames, said Mike Pruitt, Bargersville’s deputy fire chief. The tractor and baler were beyond saving, so firefighters shifted their focus to extinguishing the fire in the field, which was spreading quickly, he said.
Smoke could be seen for miles, according to a Bargersville Community Fire Department post.
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The fire was out in about 20 minutes, Pruitt said. Investigators believe it started due to a mechanical failure inside the hay baler. There are many moving parts that build up heat in a baler, and with the hay being very dry, the fire started and grew quickly, he said.
Pruitt did not know the cost of damages, he said. But the average cost of a hay baler is about $35,000; the average cost of a tractor is about $55,000; and the cost of hay varies, but averages a few hundred dollars per acre.
