A massive fire at Haldeman Farms in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, destroyed nearly $1 million worth of hay on September 10. The fire, which started around 11 p.m., took firefighters more than eight hours to control. The blaze was so large that it could be seen from more than 10 miles away, and it required the assistance of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.
The farm, owned by Gern Haldeman Jr. and his brothers, had recently changed its strategy for stacking hay, leaving an air gap between the bales. However, this proved to be a double-edged sword as it allowed the fire to spread more quickly. Despite the loss, Haldeman Jr. was able to save a piece of equipment that was parked by the hay.
The hay, which was intended for use at Mushroom Farms, continued to burn for about a week after the fire was marked under control. The loss is a significant blow to the business, with the destroyed crop representing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
This is not the first time Haldeman Farms has experienced a fire. In 2011, two hay sheds were destroyed in a fire that burned for six days. The cause of the recent fire remains undetermined, but Haldeman Jr. expressed suspicion due to the fire starting on the west side of the stack late at night, similar to the 2011 fire.