PRINCETON, IN (AP) -
A lightning strike is being blamed for a huge hay bale fire in Gibson County.
The Gress Angus Farms in Princeton at the corner of Tichenor Road and Stage Coach Road is mainly a cattle farm and they say before the fire they already had a limited supply of hay to feed their animals.
Owner Dave Gress says he was in his home when he heard the loud boom from the lightning strike, but didn't know it had hit his farm until his neighbor called. Gress says the lightning strike hit his fence rapidly catching his hay on fire.
"To get hit just like that, to expect the fire to hit that quick is unusual, but it happens. You can see that," Gress said.
Animals were moved away from the scene as Princeton Fire Department hosed down the bales of hay while others used bulldozers. Despite their efforts, Gress says they lost 150 bales of hay and feed for their animals.
"Once a haystack catches fire you've just got to tear it apart to get it put out," Gress said.
Because of the drought, finding hay is going to be difficult.
"County wide there is no hay to be found and to find hay and bring it in it costs double the price, so it's almost an unaffordable situation," Gress said.
Gress is now hoping the weather cooperates to be able to grow a crop of hay in places he hasn't had hay in two to three months.
"So now we are going to try to sow some seed. See if we can raise something for the winter feed," Gress said.
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