TANGIPAHOA – The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office advises residents that a hay barn fire would be left alone to burn itself out.
Officials say TPSO deputies and the Kentwood Fire Department (KFD) responded to a hay barn fire early Thursday morning on Hwy 440 at I-55 west of the Village of Tangipahoa.
After the fire department attempted to extinguish the blaze for several hours, KFD advised it would allow the fire to burn itself out.
Officials say the fire is contained inside a metal building, so there is no indication it will spread anywhere else.
“Citizens unfamiliar with hay fires should know that hay bales on fire are typically unable to be extinguished unless they can be rolled into a large body of water,” TPSO officials say. “Therefore, because of the size of this barn, it can be expected the fire may continue for several days. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when driving through the area, as there is heavy black smoke emulating from the building, which could possibly cause visibility problems on the roadway. As of this morning, visibility is not an issue. The property owner will be monitoring the fire and will contact emergency services if anything changes.”
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