Hay shed, alfalfa destroyed by fire near Culver

A large hay shed full of alfalfa near Culver was destroyed by a fire that caused $250,000 in losses on Wednesday, but firefighters protected another shed full of hay and helped residents save nearby vehicles, farm gear and other items.

Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 crews responded around 11:30 a.m. to the shed fire in the 7600 block of Southwest Bear Drive, east of Highway 97, Fire Chief Brian Huff said.

The first crew arrived to find about 600 tons of alfalfa inside the hay shed, fully involved and already considered a total loss, Huff said.

Firefighters spent the next nine hours protecting exposures to the fire from ignition. Huff said another shed was full of hay that was mostly saved, though a few bales had to be removed after they caught on fire.

Fire crews, the land owner and neighbors protected and salvaged vehicles, farm equipment and a large amount of combustible construction debris, Huff said.

The fire chief said the cause of the fire is undetermined.