Staff Writer
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Several rolled bales of milo or hay smoldered, sending smoke across a large open field near 13th Street and Haythorne Avenue on Wednesday, as fire rose knee-high from other spots.
“We have no idea at this time what caused this,” said Battalion Chief Bob Kiefner of the Terre Haute Fire Department.
“Our main concern is to keep it from the construction company and make sure all the hot spots are out,” Kiefner said about 3:30 p.m. Firefighters had been on the scene for about 11⁄2 hours and had most of the fire under control.
Firefighters using “brush trucks,” fire trucks that have a special hose that can spray water out from the front bumper onto the ground, were called in from Sugar Creek Fire Department and Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
The former Midwest Manufacturing, now owned by Menards, at 4600 N. 13th St., is adjacent to the field.
The burning bales and field attracted several onlookers from nearby homes.
“It’s the best seat in the house,” said Carolyn Bryan, who with her husband, Paul Bryan, watched from their blue-colored EZ-Go golf cart, one that looked more like a small Jeep, complete with knobby off-road tires.
“This has a 13-horsepower Kawasaki engine,” Paul Bryan said from atop a small hill where the couple watched firefighters.
