A large bale fire near the northwest Iowa town of Maurice brought firefighters from around the area to a rural farm Wednesday afternoon.
The Maurice Fire Department says crews were called at about 3 PM to approximately 1,400 round corn stalk bales on fire.
Heavy fire and smoke were coming from the bale pile when firefighters arrived, and the size of the fire led Maurice to request mutual aid.
Sioux Center responded with its ladder truck and a tanker, while additional firefighting resources came from Alton, Le Mars, Granville, Hawarden, Hospers, Hull, Ireton, Orange City and Rock Valley.
Ambulance crews from four communities also assisted, along with Sioux County Emergency Management and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.
Firefighters worked for several hours, with all units back in service around nine Wednesday night.
One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for a heat-related injury.
(By Carson Schubert, KSOU, Sioux Center)