Flames and smoke rise from stacks of hay bales on the south side of Heifer Source 6-miles east of Libreal on Bluebell Road, the location of the old Cattleco feed lot. The fire was called in at 11:19 a.m. Friday, and firefighting cews from Southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle engaged in the battle to contain the blaze, which could be seen throughout the area. The fire is expected to burn for several days. Courtesy photo

5,200 hay bales, 20 truck loads of tires still burning east of Liberal

By LARRY PHILLIPS

• Leader & Times

Approximately 5,200 bales of cattle feed and 20 truck loads of tires went up in flames Friday afternoon six miles east of Liberal, according to a Friday evening press release from the Southwest Kansas Incident Management Team Public Information Officer Darcy K. Golliher.

“At 11:19 am on Friday, a fire was reported at the Heifer Source facility located at 14826 Road 4; east of Liberal,” Golliher noted. “No people or livestock were injured; the fire is contained to five stacks of hay on the southeast portion of the facility.”

The site of the fire is at the former location of Cattleco feed lot on Bluebell Road.

Golliher reported Heifer Source’s Director of Public Affairs Bill Harke estimated “3,100 bales of corn stalks; 2,100 bales of wheat hay; and 20 truckloads of tires were lost. Fortunately, Heifer Source has enough corn stalks and wheat hay on site to cover them in the short term and they have already been in contact with their current suppliers whom have assured them they can supply enough to cover their lost.”

The fire is estimated to last until at least Tuesday evening, according to Golliher, and smoke and flames could still be seen early Saturday morning from several miles away.

The following departments arrived on scene to assist: Turpin Fire, Tyrone Fire, Satanta Fire, Seward County Fire, Liberal Fire, Beaver County Water Truck, Seward County Road, Seward County Hazmat Response, Seward County EMS, Seward County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, American Red Cross, Beaver County Emergency Management, Seward County Emergency Management and Southwest Kansas Incident Management Team.

“A small crew will be left on scene throughout the night to monitor the fire,” Golliher noted.

No exact cause of the blaze was released by Golliher.

“Donations of food and water were made by Wal-Mart, Dillons, Hutch’s and Little Caesars Pizza,” she added.