Ireton, Iowa — Muddy conditions made it difficult at a fire call near Ireton in which about 30 round cornstalk bales were destroyed on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
According to Ireton Fire Chief Richard Steckelberg, at about 7:40 a.m., the Ireton Fire Department was called to the report of a bale fire near 4111 Dove Avenue, five miles north and a mile west of Ireton.
The chief says the fire department saw the bales on fire as they approached the scene. But due to muddy conditions, the firefighters couldn’t get at the bales to extinguish them. He says some payloaders were there to help and they had the operators push the burning bales out into the middle of a field where there was less chance of other things starting on fire. Steckelberg tells us they just stood by while they burned, as there wasn’t much else they could do.
Steckelberg says no injuries were reported.
He says they originally called for mutual aid from Sioux Center and Hawarden but called to tell them to disregard as there was no way to get to the fire.
He says the cause of the fire is undetermined.
Chief Steckelberg reports that about 30 cornstalk bales were destroyed in the blaze.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about a half an hour.
