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WARSAW, OH – On Tuesday evening, July 29, 2008, the Walhonding Valley Fire District (WVFD) was toned out at about 6:15 p.m., to a farm tractor fire with a full hay wagon attached. The caller also reported some exposure issues of two propane tanks and a nearby barn.

WLFD Engines 701 and 702 quick went en route to 44127 Coshocton County Road 27 in Bethlehem Township. Also going en route was Tanker 706 and Brush 704.

The driver of the tractor was coming up a hill near the entrance of the property when he heard a popping sound, and noticed that the top bales of hay were on fire, and the twine holding them together were popping off the burning hay, allowing the fire to spread to the rest of the wagon. The driver pulled the wagon into the field to try to disconnect the wagon from the tractor. The fire became too hot too quickly, and he was forced to abandoned his efforts, and get away from the fire. The fire soon spread to the rear of the tractor.

As the first units arrived on scene, the firefighters found a tractor and the wagon full of hay bales fully engulfed in flames. Hand lines were quickly pulled and process of extinguishing the fire had begun.

A water shuttle operation was put into place with Tanker 706 dumping its load into a portable reservoir. Brush 704 setup a drafting operation about one half mile down the road at an old canal to refill the tanker.

As the firefighters brought the fire under control, they began spreading out the hay with the water pressure from the hoses and hand tools. The tractor and wagon were pulled away from the pile of hay allowing the firefighters to complete the extinguishment.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour and there were no injuries.