Dairy Farm Ruined by Spectacular Night Fire
A Chehalis farmer loses his barn, home, and livestock after a blaze ignites in the hayloft, drawing hundreds of spectators to the scene.
S. L. Back, who for a number of years past has very successfully operated the Nielson farm, across the Chehalis River a mile west of Chehalis on the Donahoe road, suffered a big loss recently by a fire that did damage estimated at $10,000. Mr. Back and his sons were just finishing the milking of a string of 26 cows when fire broke out in the hay, presumably from its being overheated. The cows were rushed out of the big barn and one horse was rescued. Four other horses, terrorized by the flames, refused to budge and were burned to death, including one fine team valued by Mr. Back at $600. Sixty-five tons of hay, 1,200 bushels of grain, composed of wheat and oats, the silo, farm tools and other equipment were destroyed. From the barn the fire leaped to the residence nearby, and soon this also was destroyed. Most of the household goods were carried into nearby fields. Johannes Back, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Back, suffered very severe burns on his left arm and on his cheek while rescuing property. The young son, Curtis, also had one arm painfully burned. The farm is owned by Martin and Morris Nielsen, who resides in California.
“Four other horses, terrorized by the flames, refused to budge and were burned to death.”
Agricultural fires caused by spontaneous combustion in hay remained a persistent threat in rural Washington throughout the early 20th century. Today, improved hay moisture monitoring and modernized farm infrastructure help mitigate these high-stakes losses that were once a standard hazard of agrarian life.
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