Hay bale fire destroys semi, trailer, former school building

A hay load fire last Thursday night on Highway 26 destroyed a semi truck and trailer unit and led to a fire Sunday which destroyed a former school building along the highway near the Penawawa intersection.

Kristian Gibler, 43, Palouse was hauling the load of hay westbound when it caught fire. Gibler told Trooper Katelyn Baxter he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed smoke coming from the load.

He stopped the truck on the westbound side of the highway and attempted to push the burning bales off the Kenworth until the fire became too hot.

Suspected cause of the fires is exhaust from the tru...