Minn. blaze destroys 3 barns, kills 22 calves after hay bales ignite
Three barns were destroyed by a fire near Kensington Wednesday night, Jan. 31, 2018. Some bales were still smoldering Thursday morning. Jeff Beach / Forum News Service
KENSINGTON, Minn. — Three barns and 22 calves were lost in a fire Wednesday night, Jan. 31, on a farm north of Kensington.
The fire apparently started when a skid loader was left idling near some round hay bales, a news release from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said. The fire then spread to nearby calf barns.
A farm worker reported the fire at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, just south of Minnesota Highway 27 between Kensington and Hoffman. Kensington is 20 miles southwest of Alexandria.
The news release listed the property owner as Mark Fernholz.
A cattle trailer and 50 round bales also were lost to the fire.
Some of the bales were still smoldering on Thursday morning.
The fire remains under investigation. Responding agencies were the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Kensington Fire Department, Hoffman Fire Department and Hoffman Ambulance.
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