The storage barn of hay-producer NY Hay Sales in Earlville, N.Y., burned down in a fire on Wednesday, Sept. 11. While no injuries were reported, 90% of the hay manufacturer’s second cutting hay was destroyed. Fumes from the burning cutting hay wafted over into Hamilton from Earlville, filling the air on Colgate’s campus with a smell that many students attributed to the fire and lingered for several days.
NY Hay Sales owner Ed Potrzeba Jr. spoke about his reaction to the fire.
“Everything that you work for all year is just going up in flames,” Potrzeba said.
Upon seeing the flames, Potrzeba immediately placed a 911 call to the Earlville Fire Department (EFD).
“[I thought] ‘Oh my God, the hay barn’s burning. Just get your clothes on, go down there and call 911,’” Potrzeba said.
The Hamilton Fire Department (HFD), which is partially staffed by Colgate student volunteer firefighters, was among the stations dispatched by the EFD. HFD was also joined by the neighboring departments of Hubbardsville, Madison, Smyrna and North Brookfield. Senior and HFD volunteer firefighter Will Ackerman was involved in fighting the barn fire.
“We were dispatched at 5:06 a.m. for automatic mutual aid into Earlville for their reported structure fire,” Ackerman said. “Upon our arrival, the barn was already heavily involved in fire. Over the next hour, our engine, heavy rescue and tanker responded with about 15 HFD members on scene and more on standby.”
Ackerman explained that crew safety was the priority while working to contain the fire.
“In the heat of the moment, we rely on our training, following the assignments given to us by command and executing them to the best of our ability. Our primary concern is always the safety of our crew,” Ackerman said. “Especially in cases like this, where it’s a non-residential structure, we will never compromise safety to save a building. That said, we’re proud to do our part in serving the community and ensuring that the fire is handled safely and effectively.”
The NY Hay Sales team expressed immense gratitude for the bravery and support of local fire departments in a post on their Facebook page.
“We are blessed for the wonderful fireman and firewomen that came to our rescue today. Our volunteer fire team is just absolutely amazing,” the post read. “Thank you all so much for everything that you do every day, every week, every month, every year!”
The barn fire caused a distinct and noticeable smell across the Colgate campus. Sophomore Fife McCargo described her experience with the smell.
“The smell lasted all day, and nobody knew where it came from,” McCargo said. “It smelled like a bonfire, but worse. It took a few days for the smell to get out of my room.”
The storage barn that burnt down was built by Potrzeba in 2017. He established what was then a small family farm with his wife in 2015 after deciding to go on leave from his office equipment sales job. In 2016, the couple purchased the neighboring plot to increase hay production for their livestock and began selling surplus to nearby farms. NY Hay Sales is now a thriving business fixed on a 1,000-acre plot of land.
Despite the setback, NY Hay Sales remains fully operational. Potrzeba and his team have promised that all orders will go out without delays.
“We are insured, and we’re going to just keep forging ahead. We lost all of our second cutting hay, and we’ll buy from other producers to try to make up the difference if customers are demanding second cutting crop,” Potrzeba said. “If we don’t have hay, we’re able to buy hay […], but where you’re trying to make your income is off your own land, and not somebody else’s.”
Potrzeba stated that it is still unknown how the fire started.
