The fire was reported about 2.55pm, but Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Bevan Koppert told the Otago Daily Times it could have been burning since the morning.
Parkside Limestone Quarry staff smelt smoke early yesterday, but did not look as far as the lines of hay bales for any sign of fire, Mr Koppert said.
The Weston brigade was assisted by Oamaru, Glenavy, Waitaki and Kakanui crews, with two fire trucks and four tankers at the scene.
As the fire was in a remote location, crews had to travel to and from the Weston township for water.
‘‘There's quite a bit of travel to get water - you've got to keep filling up the tank to keep it pouring over,'' Mr Koppert said.
‘‘We keep one up here as a supply truck and they keep coming up here and filling up.''
Firefighters had the blaze under control within about 90 minutes, but remained at the scene into the evening to dampen down and bury the fire with lime from Parkside Limestone Quarry.
They had to pull apart the hay bales to make sure the fire was completely out, Mr Koppert said.
‘‘With hay you've never got it completely out ... When we start opening [hay bales] up, it'll start burning like a rocket,'' he said.
‘‘When you open it up, it lets the air in and away it goes.''
Firefighters were also battling a strong nor'westerly.
‘‘The wind makes it a wee bit sticky, but we can handle that,'' he said.
About a quarter of the hay bales were destroyed in the fire.
The cause of the blaze was not yet known.rebecca.ryan@odt.co.nz
