A fire reported near Rock Valley Sunday night turned into a massive fire fight. Rock Valley Fire Chief Brent Eshuis says the fire broke out in a large stack of hay bales at a farm five miles southwest of Rock Valley. Strong winds caused the fire to spread quickly. Mutual aid response came from 25 fire departments, including Akron and Le Mars Fire Rescue, all of Sioux County’s fire departments, and seven from southeast South Dakota. Some 1-thousand bales of hay burned, and Chief Eshuis estimated 200-thousand gallons of water were used to put out the fire. Farm implements and heavy equipment were brought in to contain the fire and keep nearby livestock safe. Two Rock Valley businesses donated food and water to help the firefighters.
- photos courtesy Rock Valley Fire Department
