Early morning fire claims hay baler near Lovell

Lovell area farmer Tim Beck was baling hay early Friday morning in a field off Lane 14½ southwest of Lovell and just west of Foster Gulch when he stopped to work with some cattle. The baler he was working suddenly went up in flames.

“I had replaced the chain gear the day before and thought it was all tuned up and ready to go,” Beck said. “I baled for about 1½ hours, and the baler was working perfectly.

“I got off and shut it off to go work some cattle. I got 50 to 75 yards away when I turned around and saw flames and black smoke. I assume a bearing or hydraulic valve got hot and ignited some dust.”

Beck immediately called 911 and disconnected the baler from the tractor. The call came in at 7:10 a.m.

Firemen quickly extinguished the baler, which remained smoldering in the middle of the hayfield. Beck called the baler a “2000 era” machine.