Hay Bale Fire Sends Smoke, Flames Into East Inland Empire Sky

BLYTHE, CA — Two large hay fires burned into early Friday morning in east Inland Empire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials reported.

The blaze, described as a vegetation fire, began at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, burning through a large amount of baled hay.

Firefighters responded to 400 bales of hay on fire, in the 10600 block of Seeley Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

An hour and a half later, fire crews responded to a second blaze to find 1,000 bales of hay on fire. The second fire burned 3.5 miles from the first fire, in the intersection of Arrowhead Boulevard and 14th Avenue.

A spokesperson with the fire department told City News Service that they are two separate fires.

Fire crews were set to remain on their respective scenes Friday morning until the hay owners could safely take over the incident.

"Fire resources will remain on scene until they can safely transition the incident to the owners," a spokesperson for the department reported over Twitter.

There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.