A rural Saline County man is out an estimated $900 after 18 hay bales caught fire during a thunderstorm Monday afternoon.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that emergency personnel were called to the 4000 block of East Cloud approximately 2:58 p.m. Monday for the report of a hay bale fire. The fire was contained to 18 bales owned by John Thelander. Total loss was estimated at $900.

Soldan said a lightning strike is believed to have started the fire.