(Smith County Insider Press) On Tuesday afternoon, October 11, Smith County 911 received a call reporting that a hay baler had caught on fire and was spreading throughout a field on Flatt Rock Road.
Rock City/Rome Fire Department was dispatched to the scene along with Central District, New Middleton, Forks River, and South Carthage Fire Departments. The blaze destroyed a hay baler, a farm utility truck, and over 200 bales of hay. The fire spread quickly to over 50 acres of a hay-field.
Once the fire was controlled, firemen allowed it to burn itself out throughout the night. Wednesday morning, Rock City/Rome fire department received a second call to return to the scene of the fire. A nearby neighbor had noticed that a few of the hay bales underneath cedar trees had begun to rekindle around 10:30 am on Wednesday.
According to Smith County EMA Director, Sonny Carter, the owner of the hay-field was Charles Hooper. The location was at approximately 65 Flatt Rock Road.
