MORENCI, Mich. — A fire that the Morenci Fire Department says was intentionally set Thursday night burned $22,500 worth of hay in a field in Chesterfield Township.
The fire department said on social media Friday afternoon that it responded to the outdoor fire off of County Road 15-1 just before 10 p.m. on Thursday and found approximately 300 large square hay bales, along with another stack of bales nearby in the same field, on fire.
Morenci says it then called in mutual aid and began a large tanker shuttle and rural water pumping operation.
In total, Morenci says 14 fire departments from Lenawee, Fulton, Hillsdale and Williams counties assisted at the scene along with 15 tankers, 154,000 gallons of water and multiple porta tanks on the ground.
"This was an intentionally set fire, the owner lost approximately 300 large bales valued at $22,500," the department said.
Morenci did not state if any suspects are being sought.
The fire department asks that anyone who lives around wheat fields and sees suspicious activity at them call 911.
The department also thanked the following area fire departments for assistance at the scene:
Lenawee County:
- Hudson Fire Department
- Clayton Fire Department
- Fairfield Township Fire Department
- Madison Charter Township Fire Department
- Adrian Township Fire Department
- Cambridge Twp. Fire Dept.
Fulton County:
- Delta Community Fire Department
- Gorham-Fayette Fire Department
- Lyons Royalton Fire Department
- Metamora Fire Department
- Wauseon Fire Department
Hillsdale County:
- Wright-Waldron Fire and Ems
Williams County:
- Alvordton-Millcreek Township Fire Department
- Pioneer Fire Department
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