Lexington, Neb. — A hot, smoky hay bale fire broke out at Lauby Cattle Company southwest of Lexington Wednesday afternoon. Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles.
Lexington Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) responded around 2 p.m. to keep the fire from spreading to nearby, dry fields and to break up flaming bales.
About 200 large bales burned, along with up to 100 tons of ground hay according to Lauby Cattle Company owner Terry Lauby.
LVFD Chief Bo Berry said the bales were broken up so the hay could burn itself out. Terry Lauby estimated it could take several days for the smoldering hay to run out of fuel and extinguish itself.
More than a dozen firefighters went to the scene. They brought two tankers, two grass rigs and a fire command unit.
Berry said the blaze was likely caused by an ember from a branch burning in a fire pit.
Lauby was disappointed in the loss of the hay, but philosophical: hay can be replaced and no one was injured. His next concern was a National Weather Service forecast over the next few days for stormy weather and the chance for brisk winds that could cause burning embers to drift onto dry fields.
