Hull, Iowa — About 200 cornstalk bales were destroyed in a fire on Saturday, March 16, 2024, near Hull.
According to Hull Fire Chief Greg Van Roekel, at about 4:10 p.m., the Hull Fire Department was called to the report of bales on fire at 3549 Ironwood Avenue, three miles east, three south, back west almost a mile to the West Branch Floyd River, and then about a third of a mile south of Hull.
The chief says the fire department saw about 200 cornstalk bales on fire as they approached the scene. He says they sprayed some water, spread the bales out in the field, and a farmer disked them under.
Van Roekel says no injuries were reported.
The fire department was assisted by firefighters from Boyden, Sioux Center, Rock Valley, and Orange City.
He says the cause of the fire is undetermined.
Chief Van Roekel reports that the damage was limited to about 200 cornstalk bales. At the current average market price at the Rock Valley Hay Auction of roughly $27 per cornstalk bale, the bales were valued at roughly $5400.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for at least three hours.
