The Davis Fire Department is investigating the cause of two haystack fires that sent smoke drifting into the Davis city limits Saturday.
Division Chief Paul Swanson said the fires were reported within 15 minutes of one other Friday night, first at 11:10 p.m. on the west side of County Road 102 south of County Road 29, followed by another reported at 11:23 p.m. at County Road 99B, also south of County Road 29.
Both incidents involved large haystacks — about 100 bales of hay apiece, according to the property owners — where flames grew quickly in size and limited fire crews’ ability to battle them once they arrived on scene.
“Once the entire stack is involved, you pretty much have to let them burn and protect the other area around them,” which in this case involved farm fields and additional haystacks, Swanson said. Crews remained on scene throughout the night and into Saturday, when both fires continued to smolder.
No injuries were reported from the incidents, which are being considered suspicious in nature.
“There’s no reason for piles like that to catch fire almost simultaneously,” fire Capt. Brian Lynch said.
Anyone with information about the cause of the fires is asked to contact the Davis Fire Department at 530-757-5684.