Rock Rapids, Iowa — About 250 bales were destroyed in a fire on Saturday, April 9, 2016 near Rock Rapids.
According to Rock Rapids Fire Chief Ed Reck, about 6:00 PM, the Rock Rapids Fire Department was called to the report of round bales on fire at 3468 Highway 9, about two and a half miles east of the east Rock Rapids water tower. That’s the cattle feeding operation of Ordel Harberts, says Reck.
The chief says the fire department saw lots of fire and smoke from numerous round bales as they approached the scene. He says several farmers came with tractor-mounted loaders, pay-loaders, and disks to help out. They hauled the bales out to a nearby field, pulled them apart and doused them with water to put out the fire.
Reck says no injuries were reported.
The fire department was assisted by the George and Little Rock Fire Departments, the Lyon County Ambulance crew and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
He says the cause of the fire appeared to be an outdoor wood burner.
Chief Reck reports that all 250 bales were destroyed.
He says they used at least 20,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene until 9:30 PM.
