Large fire destroys hay barn

Volunteer Fire Services Inc. firefighters battle smouldering bales of hay in a barn on the Tracy Vannatta farm, Midland Road, at mid-afternoon Sunday. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge]

At a time when hay is at a premium due to drought conditions, a fire destroyed a large number of hay bales Sunday at a Bedford County farm.

The blaze broke out at a large chicken farm on Midland Road owned by Tracy Vannatta at mid-afternoon. Volunteer Fire Services Inc. was notified at 2:51 p.m.

No cause has been determined, VFSI training officer Brian Cantrell said.

Approximately 190 bales of hay were lost, according to Cantrell.

Firefighters battled the flames through searing summer heat for approximately seven hours.

Bedford County deputies were forced to close Midland Road several times during the fire due to thick smoke.

The fire was the second within a month on Vannatta-owned property. A similar fire occurred in May at the family's farm on Unionville-Deason Road.