Blaze burns alfalfa at Thornton dairy; spontaneous combustion suspected

Tons of alfalfa burned Friday afternoon at a Thornton dairy, which suffered a similar fire last year.

The blaze sent smoke billowing into the sky and east over Interstate 5, just north of Peltier Road. Passing motorists slowed to gawk, but for those closer to the blaze, it was a scorching hot mass that was consuming the food meant for more than 1,000 cows.

Much of the alfalfa had been purchased only about a week earlier, said Paula De Snayer, who owns the dairy with her husband. It was sitting in tall stacks, with make-shift alleys between them.

Because it was outside and spaced out, she said, the fire likely didn't burn as much hay as a July blaze that ultimately caused $500,000 in damage at De Snayer Dairy on North Rond Road.

"I think we're in better shape this time, because all of our friends came to help move the hay," she said, expressing thanks to three different Galt-based hay hauling companies that soon arrived to rescue unburnt hay.

It was not immediately known how much hay had burned, but it was likely in the tens of thousands of pounds.

For firefighters, the main concern was in preventing the fire from moving to another large unburnt stack, Thornton Fire Chief Vince Tafuri said. Firefighters from several agencies poured water on the burning hay, using water from trucks as well as pumping it from a nearby irrigation ditch.

The cause of the fire had not been determined because it was still burning, but it was likely a matter of spontaneous combustion.

As in last summer's fire that consumed a barn and 1,100 tons of hay and alfalfa, such fires often happen when hay is baled while wet. The moisture gradually heats and then combusts. Such fires also occasionally happen in grass clippings.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

GALTGIRL77 wrote on May 31, 2008 7:27 PM:

" No I am not from the cogito family. I am just someone who knows a little about the hay industry. I have a husband who has hauled it for well over 15 years and who frequently delivered to local dairies and ranches around this area. "

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papercut wrote on May 31, 2008 4:26 PM:

" galtgirl are you from the cogito family? "

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GALTGIRL77 wrote on May 31, 2008 3:34 PM:

" The grower should be responsible for this loss. The buyer usually has no idea if the hay/alfalfa he purchases has been bailed wet. A small amount of moisture in the product with the right conditions will cause combustion, almost everytime. Oh and most hay/alfalfa you see here in the valley is trucked in from neighboring NEVADA!

So DeSnayer files an insurance claim and the seller get's off scott free-although his reputation a little tarnished for bailing wet hay! It's rediculous-the LNS should name the grower/bailer. "

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papercut wrote on May 31, 2008 10:09 AM:

" T&c, i agree with you. After the same problem last year you think they'd take extra caution protecting their valuable feed. Not to mention the pollution caused by these long smoldering fires. This family dairy needs some accountability. "

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T & C wrote on May 31, 2008 7:14 AM:

" The upside is that if there is LESS alalfa, growers can charge a higher price and make MORE money! Then they file their INSURANCE Claim and get reimbursed for the loss! Dang! Sounds like "double dipping" to me! Don't ya just LOVE America? "

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