Hospers, Iowa — According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Department, the Hospers Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to a report of hay bales on fire four miles west of Hospers on Thursday at 3:04pm.
The Hospers Fire Department found a large number of hay bales on fire at 3956 Kennedy Avenue. They requested mutual assistance from the fire departments of Orange City, Alton, Boyden, and Granville. The Alton Ambulance and Orange City Ambulance also responded to the scene. As the departments were arriving, a propane tank vented, and the exiting propane caught on fire. It was originally thought that the propane tank exploded.
According to the Sioux County Sherriff’s Department, the Orange City Ambulance transported 35-year-old Eduardo Sanchez-Hidalgo of Sheldon to Orange City Area Health for treatment of minor injuries.
The fire resulted in a machine shed with approximately 80 hay bales being lost, and a 2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty concrete truck, two flatbed trailers, and a Yanmar mini excavator were also damaged in the fire.
The Hospers Fire Chief says the cause of the fire was determined to be sparks created by concrete workers near the hay bales.
Pictures courtesy Sioux County Sheriff’s Office
