A number of round hay bales were destroyed in an early Saturday morning fire that is being called suspicious.

Deputies and firefighters from Rural Fire District No. 1 were sent to the 3700 block of South Whitmore Road at 5:40 a.m. Saturday for the report of round hay bales on fire, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. 

The fire has been called suspicious as nothing was known to have happened in the area to have started the fire, he said. It is believed that the bales had been burning most of the night. They were allowed to burn out, he added.

The bales, owned by Gregory Anderers, 65, of rural Gypsum, were valued at $3,500, Soldan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612801707602.jpeg" alt="The fire is believed to have been burning for much of the night. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The fire is believed to have been burning for much of the night. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>A number of round hay bales were destroyed in an early Saturday morning fire that is being called suspicious.Deputies and firefighters from Rural Fire District No. 1 were sent to the 3700 block of South Whitmore Road at 5:40 a.m. Saturday for the report of round hay bales on fire, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. The fire has been called suspicious as nothing was known to have happened in the area to have started the fire, he said. It is believed that the bales had been burning most of the night. They were allowed to burn out, he added.The bales, owned by Gregory Anderers, 65, of rural Gypsum, were valued at $3,500, Soldan said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612801807342.jpeg" alt="The bales continue to burn as dawn breaks Saturday and a light snow falls." />
 <figcaption>The bales continue to burn as dawn breaks Saturday and a light snow falls.</figcaption>
 </figure>

$3,500 worth of hay bales destroyed in early Saturday morning fire