Explanation behind unusual spike in costly hay fires

In the last two weeks a series of hay stack fires have lit up Central Valley dairy farms. Fires in Merced and Tulare County have burned at least 2,000 tons of hay on three different farms. Firefighters say this is unusual for this time of year and have a theory about why it’s happening. Rural fire crews say dry conditions this spring allowed farmers to cut and bale alfalfa earlier than normal. Fire crews believe this freshly baled hay is fueling the hay stack fires burning in the valley. Fire crews expect the amount of hay stack fires to spike again this summer if farmers continue to irrigate, cut, and bale new alfalfa. When these kinds of fires start firefighters say their top priority is to minimize the loss and the damage.