Hay fire erupts near Staplehurst

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Approximately 75 bales were lost in an early morning hay fire March 2 west of Staplehurst.

The fire was reported to 911 around 2:07 a.m., according to Chelsea Smith, public information officer for the Seward County Sheriff’s Department.

Around 2:16 a.m., an officer headed to the scene reported he could see the fire was extremely large and called for mutual aid. Bee, Seward, Staplehurst, Tamora and Utica fire departments all responded.

At 4:56 a.m., the officer at the scene called for an additional deputy to help guide traffic through heavy smoke. Deputies also put a notice on the Seward County Sheriff Nebraska Facebook page to warn commuters about the heavy smoke. Seward Public Schools, Centennial Public Schools and Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Staplehurst were contacted to warn bus drivers about the smoke.

According to Smith, 50-75 bales were on fire and departments were finished on-scene around 9:04 a.m. The cause of the fire was unknown at press time. No injuries were reported.