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Bracken County fires hit farmers harder with drought
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By WENDY MITCHELL
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GERMANTOWN -- With hay resources already short and hay prices predicted to go up due to drought conditions over the last two months, what Bracken County farmers don't need is fire.
Since last week more than 130 round bales of hay have been lost to unexplained fires in the Germantown area of Bracken County.
Much of what was lost represented what the farmers were planning to feed their livestock during the winter, and the losses mean they may have to purchase hay to replace it unless alternative feed crops are available. Each large round bale can weigh nearly 1,900 pounds and based on Internet hay sale sites, has an estimated replacement cost of more than $140. Depending on the content and quality of the hay, replacement prices could be more than $200 per ton.
On June 24, at about 4 p.m., hay bales were found burning on property belonging to the Gerhard family on Hook Lane Extension, near Kentucky 9, officials said.
Volunteer firefighters were called, but flames spread quickly and engulfed all 48 rolls of timothy, red clover and alfalfa hay.
On July 4, around 5 a.m., the same firefighters were called to another fire on Hook Land Extension, near the Gerhard property.
This time more than 80 bales of hay and the barn where it was stored, owned by Tara and Matthew Jefferson, were on fire.
The Jeffersons lost the barn and all its contents, then the loss was amplified when the fire jumped a small lane and set another barn on fire. Expensive farming equipment was also lost in the blaze.
"It was an eight bent barn. It all went quick. They lost 83 rolls of hay, a square baler, spreader, a wagon and miscellaneous tools in the first barn," said Gary Riggs, Tara Jefferson's father. "In the other barn they lost a ton truck and a high-boy."
A bus owned by Woodmen of the World Insurance, parked in the second barn because it had been subjected to vandalism when parked outside in Germantown, was also lost in the fire, said Riggs.
The fire became so intense it also jumped to a corn crib about 40 feet away from the second barn and caught it on fire.
"The fire department was able to get that put out before too much damage was done," said Riggs.
Jefferson's losses were estimated at $125,000 which may be hard to recoup; the second barn and contents of the two barns may not have been covered by their insurance.
"They are looking at what the policy actually covers," said Riggs.
Kentucky State Police Arson Investigator Curtis Combs was called to the scene Wednesday to investigate the fires, official's said.
For hay price information go to http://www.hayexchange.com.
For more area news, go to http://www.bracken-online.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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