According to a press release from the Teutopolis Fire Protection District Facebook page, Monday, the Teutopolis Fire Protection District went to a location where the property owner had someone come out to their farm and used a temperature probe to check hay bales. They got a reading of 180 degrees, but couldn’t visually see any smoke or fire. They began moving bales out of the barn and called the fire department.
Teutopolis Fire Protection District stood by while they moved bales in case the “hot” bales ignited once they got enough oxygen. Luckily none caught fire, but were very hot to the touch.
Teutopolis Fire Protection District says they rarely get to see this side of a hay bale fire as it’s normally on fire when they get called. These pictures show the state that the bales were at and how close the property owner came to losing hundreds of hay bales and a barn.
If you are a farmer who has put up hay within the last few weeks, Teutopolis Fire Protection District encourages you to check the bales daily, if not hourly if they were put up wet.