Blazing Bales of Hay Draw Firefighters to HdG Barn: Officials

Havre de Grace, MD — First responders contained a fire inside a barn Friday morning on Old Level Road, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

A family member notified authorities that several large bales of hay were ablaze in the structure in the 3500 block of Old Level Road, the Office of the State Fire Marshal reported.

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Approximately 30 firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the fire.

The blaze was ruled accidental, caused by hay bales being ignited by natural combustion.

Officials said the fire caused $2,000 in structural damage to the barn, and $2,000 worth of items inside were also lost.

"The fire department should be commended for a quick response and containing the fire to the hay bales only," the fire marshal said in a statement. "First arriving firefighters even assisted by operating farm equipment and removed the bales of smoldering hay."

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