Grant County Fire Marshals are now using the word “unusual” to describe the frequency of hay fires seen in 2019. Saturday night’s massive blaze on Rd. 3 NW between Moses Lake and Ephrata was this year’s 13th haystack fire. Deputy Fire Marshal Crue Woodard says the volume of hay fires far exceeds the three recorded in the county in 2018. The cause of Saturday’s fire is still undetermined, but out of the other fires: one was accidental, nine were ‘incendiary’ and two were caused by spontaneous combustion. Out of the nine considered as ‘incendiary’, the fire marshal’s office hasn’t ruled out arson but the investigations are still ongoing. The cause of the Rd. 3 NW fire is expected to be released sometime next week.