By KRWG News
Vado – A major hay fire in Vado is being allowed to burn itself out, with
supervision by the property owner and the Dona Ana County Fire and
Emergency Service Department.
Damages are now estimated at about $400,000, which includes the replacement costs for two destroyed metal canopies under which the hay was being stored.
The property owner feels certain the fire is the work of an arsonist. The official investigation into the cause continues.
Capt. Kellen Tarkington of the Dona Ana County Fire and Emergency
Service Department said 20 firefighters were on the scene earlier today
at Big Sky Dairy, where two large hay stacks remain ablaze. He said a
nearby third stockpile of hay has been successfully moved out of harm's
way.
The fire was called in at 3:20 a.m., and the following departments
responded: South Valley Volunteer Fire Department, La Mesa Volunteer
Fire Department, Santa Teresa Volunteer Fire Department and the West
Valley Fire Department from El Paso County.