About $5,000 worth of hay went up in smoke in northern Allen County Tuesday, the work of vandals.
“We’ve had half a dozen hay fires, including the 50 bales yesterday, and an abandoned farmhouse burned in the last week,” said Sheriff Tom Williams. “There also have been hay fires set in southern Anderson County during the same period.”
The costly incidents have occurred during daylight hours and mostly a few miles either side of the Allen-Anderson counties line.
Williams urged anyone who might have seen a suspicious vehicle or anything else that aroused concern to contract his office, 365-1400, the 911 dispatch center or Allen County Crimestoppers, 1-800-KS-CRIME (572-7463).
“We have one lead we’re checking out,” he said.
Because of the extremely hot, dry weather this summer the value of hay has soared.
“I haven’t heard of anyone wanting to sell any, because of the scarcity,” said Marvin Lynch, at Piqua Farmers Cooperative, “but I imagine you could get $100 for a (big round) bale, or whatever you wanted.”
Some farmers already are feeding hay because of parched pasture grass.
Hay bales burn, arson suspected
