Lake Country firefighters checking for hot spots after extinguishing the fire that ignited in a hay bale being transported on Highway 97 Tuesday, July 25. (submitted photo/Lake Country Fire Department)

By Liam Verster

Ignited by Exhaust Stack

Highway closed temporarily by hay fire

Jul 25, 2023 | 2:42 PM

The highway between Lake Country and Vernon was partially closed Tuesday morning after a hay bale being transported on a truck caught fire.

The Lake Country Fire Department received a report of the fire just after 10 a.m. July 25 and crews were dispatched to the site.

Firefighters arrived on the scene near the junction to Oyama between Wood and Kalamalka Lakes and discovered an 18-wheeler with one of its large hay bales smoldering.

“The load was fairly close to the trailer unit and the exhaust stack for the tractor had been bent back, and as it was travelling, it was heating up the hay bales, so it was actually in very close proximity to the hay and it ignited the load,” Lake Country Fire deputy chief Brent Penner told Vernon Matters.

“When we arrived, the tractor trailer unit was pulling ahead, basically separated his load from the tractor, and gave us really good access to the front end of the load. We applied a little bit of water and basically took that bale and the bale underneath and basically pulled it off the truck and just ensured that any of the smoldering material was out.”

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Firefighters then used a thermal imaging camera to ensure there were no hotspots leftover in the load, with Penner adding nearly the entire load of dry hay was saved.

Penner added the damage was contained to just two hay bales, though he noted smoldering hay was falling off under the truck, and the driver’s decision to unhook the load and pull forward not only protected the vehicle but also gave the firefighters better access to the fire.

The deputy fire chief noted this incident should serve as a reminded to other drivers to be cautious with their loads.

“If you’re operating a vehicle or if you’re operating machinery or whatever it is, it does make sense and it is good practice to do a walk around your vehicle and make sure all your mechanical components are in good running shape,” Penner said.

“In this case the exhaust stack was very obviously bent towards the load. It definitely could have been prevented just by seeing that and getting it repaired at that time.”

During the course of the incident the northbound lanes of the highway were closed and traffic was being detoured via Pelmewash Parkway.

After the fire crews finished the work, the highway was cleared and the truck and trailer were pulled over to the side of the road so RCMP could inspect the vehicle.

Vernon Matters has reached out to RCMP for comment.

The highway was reopened to northbound traffic at around 11 a.m. Tuesday.