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Sparks ignite bales near Hills

By
Mavis Fodness

The Hills Area Fire Department spent four hours at the Norm Sjaarda farm north of Hills fighting a fire involving large hay bales.
Fire chief Jared Rozeboom said his department received the call at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12.
The farm is located along County Road 6 near 51st Street in Martin Township.
The Beaver Creek Fire Department provided mutual aid.
“The downside of a hay fire is that you can’t put them out without a whole lot of work,” Rozeboom said.
He surmised a piece of metal in one of the bales went through the bale grinder at the feedlot, providing the spark for the fire.
“They’re pretty sure it wasn’t a mechanical failure, just metal went through the grinder,” he said.
Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading as the bales were opened and allowed to burn themselves out.
No livestock was affected by the fire.
A hoop building near the grinding area was lost.

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