Officials investigate hay bale fire in Enid

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ Garfield County investigators hope a suspicious large hay bale fire isn't the start of another round of arson. <br/><br/>Undersheriff Jerry Niles said the deputy who responded to

Thursday, September 2nd 2004, 5:54 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ Garfield County investigators hope a suspicious large hay bale fire isn't the start of another round of arson.

Undersheriff Jerry Niles said the deputy who responded to the fire told him 300 bales were involved in the blaze south of Kremlin. Smoke from the fire was so heavy authorities had to close part of North 42nd Street for a time.

The responding deputy took photographs of tire tracks near the fire scene and notified the state Fire Marshal's Office, Niles said.

``The last three years we've been fighting the same problem,'' Niles said. ``It's a problem this time of year.''

While authorities have collected evidence from previous fires, officials haven't been able to make an arrest.

Niles encouraged the public to help by watching out for suspicious activity and getting vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers.