FORT LUPTON – The Fort Lupton Fire Department said 3,500 tons of hay burned in the July 26 fire on Weld County Road 16.

Chief Phil Tiffany said the fire started shortly after 2 p.m. and spread to eight rows of hay bales. The size was 300 yards long by 100 yards wide. Eleven agencies – Fort Lupton, Mountain View, Frederick-Firestone, Brighton, Hudson, Southeast Weld, Johnstown, Platte Valley, and Platteville fire departments plus ambulance crews from Platte Valley and Weld County – were on the scene.

"The fire was allowed to burn due to the size and difficulty in extinguishing it," Tiffany said. "We monitored the fire all night to make sure that it did not spread."

The cause is not known. There were no injuries. One fireman was checked for heat-related problems and was cleared to return to duty.

Tiffany said because of the size of the fire, it will smolder for several days.