Eight fire departments unite to fight maize blaze

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A Sept. 10 fire in a corn field south of County Road J near Hammond took eight fire departments to put out, including all three United Fire and Rescue Stations (Hammond, Baldwin, Woodville) as well as Roberts, River Falls, Hudson, New Richmond, Spring Valley, Glenwood City and St. Joseph’s Fire Departments.

United Fire and Rescue Hammond Station Chief Andy Jensen said the high winds Monday made the fire difficult to put out.

“As quickly as we were knocking it down, it was picking up right behind us and taking off again,” Jensen said.

With the cooperation of all eight departments, the farmer who worked the field and another farmer, the fire was eventually put out. Jensen said the farmers used dics to plow a ditch in order to prevent the fire from spreading farther.

Jensen said the fire began when a combine started on fire in the field. Jensen said he is not sure what started the combine on fire.

“The farmer thought it was just some buildup of loose cornstalks and stuff like that,” Jensen said, “that were bumping around the motor that had…started on fire.”

Jensen said there was minimal damage to the combine, and even the corn might be salvageable.

“It raced through the field so quick that the cobs are all still hanging on the stalks of corn,” Jensen said. “I think he can still get something out of it.”

Jensen said it is hard to prevent fires like this from happening when it is windy and dry.

“Just try and keep everything clean, I guess,” Jensen said. However, Jensen said the combine that started the fire was as clean as it could be. Jensen said fires like this just happen sometimes.

He did recommend farmers make sure they have fire extinguishers in good working order on their combines and other farm machinery, in case a fire does break out.

Tags: news, fire, hammond, roberts, wisconsin, agriculture