EVERSON, Wash. -- A massive pile of hay continued to smolder Friday morning after a fire at an Everson area dairy.
Jerry and Michelle Van Dellen own the farm in the 6800 block of Nooksack Road, and Michelle Van Dellen said an employee called at about 1:45 Thursday morning to report the hay barn was on fire.
“I called the fire department by the time I came out, so it was within 10 minutes or so, the entire barn was completely in flames,” Van Dellen said.
Fire crews worked to beat back the flames all Thursday morning, while neighbors with heavy equipment moved the estimated 160-tons of smoldering hay into a nearby field.
Whatcom County Fire District 1 acting chief Russ Brock said the cause is still under investigation, but Van Dellen suspects the hay spontaneously combusted.
“As the hay is stored and goes through the curing process, it generates heat, and if it gets too hot, it can set itself on fire,” she said.
The hay will continue to smolder for days, as they continue to put water on it to eventually extinguish the fire, said Van Dellen.
She estimated their losses to be nearly $100,000.
“It could have been a lot worse. It could have spread to the other barns. It could have injured some of the cows, or one of the employees, but none of that happened. So, the losses are limited to physical property and we’ve had great neighbors coming in, offers to help, so [we feel] really blessed.”
Whatcom County officials said residents from Nugents Corner to Sumas reported smelling smoke.
County Fire Districts 4, 7 and 14 all assisted District 1 in controlling the blaze.
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