Saline County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating as many as six round hay bale fires that occurred Thursday night in several locations.
The fires were first reported about 3:48 a.m., all at the same time and apparently on property owned by David Evans, according to Galatia Fire Chief Ryan Grant. A neighbor reported hundreds of hay bales on fire on both Brown Road and Droit Road; a third fire was reported north of Galatia, Grant said. In all, about 400 round bales of hay were burned, according to Sheriff Keith Brown.
Galatia and Carrier Mills firefighters responded to hay fields west of town. Eldorado firefighters also responded to the fires; the Thompsonville Fire Department provided station coverage for Galatia. Most firefighters had left the scenes by 8 a.m.
Brown and deputies were on the scene this morning to investigate the incidents.
The hay bales are worth about $30 each, Brown said, "So it's a pretty good hit."
"We're asking for help from the public, if they saw anything suspicious in the Galatia area early Friday morning," Brown said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Saline County Sheriff's Department at 252-8661.
