Volunteer firefighters from a half-dozen Vermilion County departments were called upon early today (Monday, August 20, 2018) to help battle a large hay fire east of Westville.
Westville Area Fire Protection District Chief Gary Wright says the blaze involved over 100 large round bales of hay that were burning at the Dale Ghibaudy farm. The alarm sounded at 3:44 a.m.
Firefighters from the Catlin, Lynch, Georgetown and Ridge Farm departments helped douse the blaze, and a light tower from the Tilton Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
Preliminary damage estimates on the loss of the hay was placed at $7,500.
Some firefighters were still on the scene more than four hours after the fire was discovered, but Wright said most of the fire was out. He added some thunderstorms that were moving into the area should help but added the fire would likely be smoking throughout the day. The smoke was blowing toward the west when the fire first erupted, sending smoke into Westville.
