Farmers fear more field fires could be on the way for Michiana this fall

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- The sounds of harvest are coming soon to fields across Michiana. Farmers are shaking out the combine cobwebs at Davenport Farms in Marshall County, making sure their equipment is equipped for the harvest ahead.

Clay Geyer has been farming in Michiana for more than thirty years.

He told ABC57News while the corn crop might look fine, what’s covering that crop can be a huge fire hazard as it moves through the machines.

"This residue, or corn shucks or corn leaves, all that material is going through the combine," Geyer explained. "These chucks here can burn really fast, just like a piece of paper.

Last year was filled with large field fires across Indiana. Farmers are noticing a similar trend this year, as the hot and dry days have once again turned Hoosier farms into tinderboxes.

"As of September 12, there's already been two field fires and combine fires in the state of Indiana," Geyer said.

These types of fires spread quickly, sometimes without the farmer even finding out until it’s uncontrollable.

"As that operator is going down through the field with his combine, he's looking ahead, Geyer explained. "He might be looking on his mirrors, but he may not see this chaff. It's going out the back with a spark, and it's getting spread out on the ground. Until he comes back, he doesn't realize he has a field fire until it's too late."

Geyer said farmers typically keep fire extinguishers on board, but they often don't fully douse the flames.

"It's very difficult to put out," Geyer clarified. "You almost need another piece of tillage equipment out there, incorporating trying to smother it.

"Then you try to knock it out before it got out of hand, if possible, until the fire department gets there to help."

Lieutenant Daren Miller says the Plymouth Fire Department is gearing up for another busy brush fire season this fall. With more dry weather on the way, he’s cautioning residents to check if it’s ok to burn before a blaze grows out of control.

"It could take away resources for other emergencies when there is a burning ban in place," Miller said. "Accidents do happen. Unfortunately, accidents end in bad outcomes."