Visalia - Spontaneous combustion - $45,000 worth of hay destroyed in fire

$45,000 worth of hay destroyed in fire

Spontaneous combustion caused a haystack fire Monday north of Visalia near the Bob Wiley Detention Facility, according to Kim Pennington, Tulare County Fire battalion chief.

The fire erupted at Elkhorn Dairy on Avenue 368, at about 9 a.m. Seventy-five bales of hay were destroyed, at an estimated loss of $45,000.

Another 1,925 bales of hay and a pole barn were saved, Pennington said, because of a “coordinated effort by ranch personnel and the Tulare County Fire Department.” The estimated savings was $485,000.

Twelve firefighters manning four engines and a water tender put out the blaze, Pennington said.

Source: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com