Spontaneous Combustion Causes Marathon County Barn Fire

Fair

Temp: 9.0 F (-12.8 C)

Wind Chill: -7 F (-22 C)

More Weather

Wausau Downtown Airport, WI

Back to HomePage
Updated: 10:32 AM Jul 18, 2008 Spontaneous Combustion Causes Marathon County Barn Fire Fire crews say moist hay that was stacked too tightly spontaneously combusted in a barn near Stratford. Quick work by emergency crews helped contain the damage to a small part of the building. Posted: 10:23 AM Jul 18, 2008 Reporter: Liz Hayes Email Address: lhayes@wsaw.com

Font Size:

Some quick work by fire crews is taking the credit for saving a barn from a fire near Stratford.

Firefighters and emergency personnel arrived to the farm and residence on Blueberry Rd at about 9:30 Thursday morning.

They quickly contained the fire, but worked for hours removing hay.

Cattle escaped the fire and no injuries were reported.

The Edgar fire chief says 25 square feet of moist hay was stacked too tightly and spontaneously combusted.

The chief says the hay had been heating up for about three weeks before igniting, and that these types of fires are less common as outside hay bunkers and silos are being used more often.

Click here to post a comment.