UPDATE, 3:05 p.m.: Firefighters have the hay bales ablaze on a Tolu-area farm under control, though they will let the bales burn themselves out.
UPDATE, 2:47 p.m.: Mattoon firefighters are leaving the scene of the fire in the wildlife management area and returning to the fire station.
Two fires in the northern portion of the county have firefighters busy this afternoon.
Sturgis, Sullivan and Mattoon fire departments are responding to a fire in the Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area on the border with Union County. There has been no word on the extent of that blaze or a cause.
In Tolu, Crittenden and Tolu fire departments are responding to a hay fire on Kevin Wheeler's farm. There are reportedly about 25 bales of hay on fire. No cause has been reported.
Conditions across the county are very dry after several weeks without significant rainfall. Residents are advised to avoid any burning until evening and overnight hours.
