Five departments help stop blaze but lose barn, equipment, 200 hay bales

The Monett Rural Fire District and supporting agencies battled a farm fire in rural Monett on Oct. 24 that destroyed a barn, farm equipment, and approximately 200 bales of hay. 
Firefighters received a call shortly before 8 a.m. on Oct. 24 of a fire at 8624 Farm Road 2220 at the farm of Hector Aldaba in Lawrence County. A 45-by-50-foot wood-frame outbuilding or shed containing tools was on fire. 
The building was fully involved by the time firefighters arrived. The fire was spreading toward nearby trees. By that point, the building had partially collapsed. Multiple nearby bales of hay had also become involved, extending the hazard to the nearby timber line. 
Firefighters were on the scene within 10 minutes with a pumper truck and a pumper/tanker. Monett city firefighters also responded, attacking the building from a different direction. The Pierce City Fire District sent an additional tanker, setting up a portable drop tank to sustain the water supply. The Aurora Fire Protection District sent three tankers. The Purdy Fire Protection District sent a tanker/pumper. Additional tankers shuttled water from a hydrant located on Hwy. H as a primary water source. In total, firefighters had 11 apparatuses involved and 17 firefighters. 
According to Monett Rural Fire District Chief Matt Privett, crews concentrated on suppressing the fire from outside the building. As the effort progressed, firefighters removed sections of the collapsed metal roof to gain better access to hot spots and extinguish the fire from within. 
“Due to the large quantity of burning hay and its proximity to the timber line, additional equipment was utilized to separate the hay bales and prevent further fire extension,” Privett reported. “The assistance of Vaughns Construction and its skid steer was instrumental in relocating burning hay away from surrounding exposures.
“Once the hay bales were repositioned and the surrounding exposures were protected, incident command determined that allowing the remaining hay to burn under controlled conditions was the most practical course of action. Crews continued monitoring the area to ensure the fire remained contained and did not spread to surrounding vegetation or other exposures.”
Firefighters had the building blaze under control within 90 minutes, but stayed on the scene for more than six hours. The fire was confined to one acre. Property loss was valued at $100,000. 
 
Cause of fire undetermined
Cause of the fire was undetermined due to extensive damage to the building. Vehicles in the building included two baler/choppers and off-road recreational vehicle. The equipment was not believed to have been involved in igniting the blaze. Other equipment in the barn included a welding torch, gardening tools and agricultural equipment.
At the time Privett wrote his report, hay bales continued to smolder and were expected to burn for an extended period. 
“The fire resulted in a significant loss for the property owner, including the barn, agricultural equipment, and much of the hay needed to feed his livestock,” Privett stated. “While this was a devastating loss for a local farmer, the response from our community has been remarkable. Since the incident, several individuals and businesses have reached out offering assistance, including donations of hay, agricultural equipment, and financial support to help the farmer recover and continue caring for his livestock.”
The family subsequently established a GoFundMe account to help offset the costs of replacing hay and meeting other needs associated with livestock.
“One thing that makes our rural communities special is how people come together when someone is in need,” the fire chief added. “This farmer has suffered a tremendous loss, but seeing the number of people willing to step forward and help has been incredible. Farming is more than just a job. It’s a livelihood, and losing the equipment and resources needed to care for livestock can be devastating. We are extremely thankful for everyone who has reached out to offer support.”