(Little Rock)– A thousand bales of cornstalks went up in flames Wednesday in Osceola county, northeast of Little Rock. Fire Departments from eight different communities in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota battled the blaze.
Little Rock Fire Chief Austin Kannegeiter says they had to use excavation equipment to break the bales apart and bury them in order to finally get the fire out.
Two firefighters were treated on the scene for exhaustion. Some nearby livestock also had be moved.
In addition to Little Rock, fire departments from Sibley, George, Ashton, and Ocheyedan assisted, along with those from Bigelow, Ellsworth and Rushmore, Minnesota. Cooperative Farmers Elevator of Ashton also assisted. An estimated 95,000 gallons of water was used on the fire.
Kannegeiter says it was likely the result of some burning earlier in the day Wednesday that was reignited by wind.
The damage was put at about $25,000. Firefighters were on the scene nearly nine hours.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KIWA in Sheldon)
