WAGONER COUNTY, Okla. -- Firefighters are responding after 500 bales of hay caught fire in Wagoner County Tuesday afternoon.
Four agencies responded to the fire, but emergency management officials said they have also relied on help from ranch hands.
Officials said the fire spread over the course of an hour. The fire was sparked after a person lit a fire in a pit near dry grass.
Crews are expected to be battling the fire until Wednesday morning.
A red flag warning is in effect Tuesday due to high winds.
Good Morning! A red flag warning is in effect today with gusts near 35-45 mph @KJRH2HD #okwx pic.twitter.com/oq09rWd2al
— Kirsten Horne (@KirstenHorneWx) March 6, 2018
Officials said the ranch where the fire occurred sustained about $16,000 worth of damage.
"Hay bales burn from the inside out. Once they're on fire it goes right to the inside and burns the inside out. They've got 500 bales. We'll be here throughout the day, the evening, and possibly overnight just to keep these bales under control, said Brandon Wren with Wagoner County Emergency Management.
Emergency management teams across the state had volunteer departments ready. They said with peak fire danger, crews had to prepare for the worst.
"Going away from their family, going away from their job, losing money in fact but going in to tackle these fires.. and they don't get anything but a "thank you," Dunham said.
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