Hay-feed plant fire continues

A fire that destroyed a 250,000-square-foot hay-feed plant east of Moses Lake on Sunday was expected to continue burning for several days, authorities reported Monday. The fire was so hot it prevented firefighters from going inside to put it out.

An estimated 70,000 tons of hay being processed for livestock feed was in the Courtright Enterprises plant, 3385 Road M.2 NE, fueling the fire, said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for Grant County’s Department of Emergency Management.

About 60 firefighters from three county fire districts were at the fire, which started about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The roof on the four- to five-story building collapsed. Explosions during the fire undermined the integrity of the structure, built with concrete walls, some of which also collapsed.

“It is anticipated that based on the large quantity of hay inside the building that this will be a long-term incident, and will likely be burning for several days,” Foreman said in a press release late Sunday.

The business turned hay into cubes for easier feeding, and their products were exported to Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

No injuries were reported, and the cause was under investigation, he said.