Hay destined for drought-stricken farmers short of winter feed in the north was destroyed by fire on an Omarama farm yesterday.
The fire, which was discovered about 5am, destroyed 262 bales of meadow hay, worth about $21,000, and a four bay hay shed on Buscot Station, just west of Omarama on State Highway 8.
But it could have been worse if it were not for neighbouring dairy farmer Dave Ellis, who spotted the fire when he was going milking and raised the alarm, Buscot's Tony Gloag said yesterday.
Mr Ellis was getting up for milking about 4.45am when he saw a glow in the sky about 1km away. He initially feared the Buscot homestead was on fire, but when he drove over saw the hay and shed burning.
Mr Gloag said the meadow hay had been stored in the shed about six weeks ago. He suspected the fire had been caused by spontaneous combustion, although the definite cause might never be established.
Rain and humid weather at Omarama over the past week could have caused the hay to ignite.
Mr Gloag said the hay was not needed for Buscot - it had plenty of baleage ready for the winter. However, it was intended to sell some of the hay to South Canterbury farmers short of feed because of the drought.
Mr Gloag said the fire could have been worse if it had not been seen by Mr Ellis.
"I've got a lot to thank Dave for. It's great having a neighbour who is a dairy farmer and gets up early."
Mr Gloag was also thankful for irrigation from the Benmore Irrigation Company's scheme.
"If it [the fire] had happened 10 years ago it could have been very dangerous because it could have spread for miles. Now, because of irrigation, we are surrounded by green pastures," he said.
Omarama Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Reeves said the hay and shed were well alight when the fire brigade arrived.
Two implements were dragged from one of the bays of the shed.
Three tankers from Omarama, Otematata and Twizel hauled water from a pond about 1km away for the three units and 14 firefighters to fight the blaze.
"Our first priority was to stop it spreading to trees," Mr Reeves said.
