Hay fire put out by generous neighbors, department
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RONAN — A lightning strike caused a large pile of round hay bales to catch fire at Round Butte Road and Gillette Lane on Wednesday, but fast thinking neighbors and the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department were able to minimize the losses.
The fire started after 3 p.m. and neighbor Shane Orien immediately moved into the field with his tractor to try to salvage the bales, property owner Donna Johnson said.
Donna’s son, Justin Johnson, was also called from Big Arm, and got a tractor on the scene to preserve some of the hay. Donna and her husband Jimmy were in Kalispell at the time of the fire.
Johnson thanked Justin and Orien, and also neighbor Carl Elliott, who called 911, and the Ronan Fire Department.
“There is nothing in the world like having good neighbors,” Donna said.
The total cost of the hay bales was still being assessed, as the bales continued to smolder for a couple of days.
“It’s hard to put out a hay fire,” Donna said.
Fire danger on the Flathead Reservation is currently rated at the highest level possible. Volunteers in Chief Cliff and Polson responded to two other lightning calls within a half-hour of the incident, but no major flames resulted.
