Matlock, Iowa — Several hay bales were destroyed in a fire on Sunday, January 26, 2025, near Matlock.
According to Matlock Fire Chief Bruce Stegeman, at about 1:20 p.m., the Matlock Fire Department was called to the report of a hay bales on fire at 4410 260th Street, two miles north of Matlock and a little east.
The chief says the fire department saw 75-100 round bales on fire as they approached the scene. He says they broke the bales apart, sprayed them down, and then finished by spraying foam on them to keep them from flaring up again.
Stegeman says no injuries were reported.
The fire department was assisted by George firefighters along with tankers from Little Rock, Ashton, and Boyden.
He says they had been burning trash and the wind took it and with the dry grass it started the hay on fire.
Chief Stegeman reports that the damage was limited to the hay. At today’s market prices, the value of the lost bales would be in the neighborhood of $5000.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about two and a half hours.