Hay bales damaged in Stearns County structure fire

Hay bales were damaged in a structure fire in Stearns County on Saturday.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched at about 7:19 a.m. to a report of a structure fire along Minnesota Highway 28 in Ashley Township.

The property owner, 42-year-old Jerry Loxtercamp, from Villard, reported his open-ended shed had smoke billowing out from the round hay bales stacked inside. The shed was reportedly used for housing hay bales and farming equipment. Loxtercamp told police the hay bales were stacked about a month ago.

The Sauk Centre Fire Department responded, and Loxtercamp assisted the fire department by removing the bales as they sprayed water onto them. About 10 bales were damaged, according to the sheriff’s office.

No one was injured in the fire.