Second Straw Stack Arson in Lower Valley
Straw stack fire
An early morning fire in a straw stack in the Lower Valley is being called the second arson of its kind in ten days.
Just after midnight firefighters found several stacks of straw on fire at the George DeRuyter Dairy in Outlook. Firefighters believe the fire is arson because it started near the road, and unlike hay, straw doesn't spontaneously combust.
Dairy workers tried to stop the fire from spreading, and the dairy owner says the fire could have injured his employees.
"I always tell them, no I can replace hay, I can't replace you, so in general, yeah it is something dangerous, it can be dangerous," says Dan DeRuyter.
The fire caused $3,500 dollars in damage. A week and a half ago, a fire destroyed stacks of straw and hay in Mabton. That fire is a suspected arson. Firefighters don't believe the same person is responsible.