Gruver, IA — A couple of weeks ago, heavy rain caused delays for many Iowa farmers eager to get into the fields, as soils remained too wet for harvest. Now, warm and dry weather, along with very little precipitation in the forecast, has allowed combines to roll across the countryside. However, field fires have become a growing concern, especially after the strong winds experienced over the weekend. Wes Baddley of the Gruver Fire Department in Emmet County says combines can kick up large amounts of dust, which can quickly ignite when it comes into contact with hot machinery.

Baddeley says farmers should inspect their combines and other heavy equipment before heading into the field, checking for crop residue, dust buildup, leaking fluids, and other potential fire hazards that could ignite during harvest.

He says it’s much harder for firefighters to battle a fire in a standing crop than it is to extinguish a few flames burning through soybean stubble or corn stalk residue.

Once a fire gets into unharvested crops, it can spread quickly and become much more difficult to control.