Ever start a fire?

QwikDraw · Mar 31, 2011

I was mowing a field with the Takeuchi and Davco and after making a pass and turning around I climbed back up the hill and could see smoke.

I crested the hill and a small fire had started in the field. I immediately looked in the mirror expecting to see the machine on fire but it was not. I attempted to "mow" the fire out but that didn't work and it lit the material on the mower. I tipped/flipped the mower and got most of the debris off and hauled butt across the field to my truck and called 911.

The best I can tell it was the blade hitting a rock and creating a spark. Anybody ever hear of this or have another idea? The machine and mower were checked and showed no signs of burnt debris anywhere (except on top where I caught it on fire)

We have some very dry conditions right now and it went up quick.

The fire dept shows up drives a tanker out in the field, blows the tranny and got swallowed by the fire. No one was hurt and they contained the fire to this 8 acre field but the truck was a total loss.

Johndeere3720 · Mar 31, 2011

QwikDraw said:
I was mowing a field with the Takeuchi and Davco and after making a pass and turning around I climbed back up the hill and could see smoke.

I crested the hill and a small fire had started in the field. I immediately looked in the mirror expecting to see the machine on fire but it was not. I attempted to "mow" the fire out but that didn't work and it lit the material on the mower. I tipped/flipped the mower and got most of the debris off and hauled butt across the field to my truck and called 911.

The best I can tell it was the blade hitting a rock and creating a spark. Anybody ever hear of this or have another idea? The machine and mower were checked and showed no signs of burnt debris anywhere (except on top where I caught it on fire)

We have some very dry conditions right now and it went up quick.

The fire dept shows up drives a tanker out in the field, blows the tranny and got swallowed by the fire. No one was hurt and they contained the fire to this 8 acre field but the truck was a total loss.

Sounds like a bad deal.

Glad everyone came out okay, it could have been worse.

ralanb · Mar 31, 2011

IMAGINE EXPLAINING THAT ONE TO THE CHIEF! WONDER HOW THE DEPARTMENT WILL EXPLAIN THAT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IT'S NOT FUNNY BOUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT U GOTTA ADMIT, THERE IS A LITTLE ROOM FOR HUMOR ON THAT ONE.

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

I see it all the time. I have seen just about everything get burned up or start a fire.

teg · Mar 31, 2011

The only thing you can see on the truck "Dial 911".

That's something you don't see everyday... were they trying to put out the flames before the truck caught fire?

Johndeere3720 · Mar 31, 2011

DIRTROAD said:
I see it all the time. I have seen just about everything get burned up or start a fire.

View attachment 206377

Look at that! Thats a lot of smoke! :confused2:

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

Johndeere3720 said:
Look at that! Thats a lot of smoke! :confused2:

That one ended up being almost 20k acres! It was a couple of years back in Horry County, SC. Burned up several homes and other stuff.

QwikDraw · Mar 31, 2011

Have you ever heard of a spark from the blade starting the fire?

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

QwikDraw said:
Have you ever heard of a spark from the blade starting the fire?

Yes, especially this time of year when relative humidity levels are very low on the east coast. Personally, I can recall two such fires. One was started in dry Kudzu by a bushhog behind a tractor and the other was a skid steer mounted cutter and was working in understory. Both machines were completely burned as well as several acres on each fire. You were lucky that your Tak survived.

Johndeere3720 · Mar 31, 2011

DIRTROAD said:
That one ended up being almost 20k acres! It was a couple of years back in Horry County, SC. Burned up several homes and other stuff.

All I can say is WOW.

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

When I saw the burned fire truck it reminded me of another couple of fires.

On one fire a brush truck (K30 Chevy) was riding around out in the field spraying the fire and his gas tank was leaking at almost the same rate as the water hose they were using. (I am exagerating a little, but it was a bad leak)

On another incident the fire truck set up in a field much like the one in the original post. It was being used to refill the small brush trucks with water. Unfortunately the hose connections were leaking and it basicly created a huge mudhole surrounding the truck. After the fire was out, they went to move the truck to go back to the station and it sat down up to the rear axle in the mud. I had to pull it out with the dozer.

ralanb · Mar 31, 2011

THAT 20K ACRES IM HORRY WAS MY BACK YARD! LITERALLY. HAD TO FIGHT THROUGH THE FIREMEN AT THE ROAD BLOCK TO GET TO MY HOUSE TO CHECK EVERTHING.

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

Qwik--

Did you still get paid for the job?

fishfactor · Mar 31, 2011

DIRTROAD said:
That one ended up being almost 20k acres! It was a couple of years back in Horry County, SC. Burned up several homes and other stuff.

What a coincidence. We did UXO remediation last year in a good portion of the land that burnt in that fire.

DIRTROAD · Mar 31, 2011

fishfactor said:
What a coincidence. We did UXO remediation last year in a good portion of the land that burnt in that fire.

Small World

QwikDraw · Mar 31, 2011

DIRTROAD said:
Qwik--

Did you still get paid for the job?

it was only a few days work, 4 small fields and a logging/clear cut clean up and I only had a small amout left (and the fire took care of it). So yes, we sent the bill today.

powerstroke444e · Mar 31, 2011

Done lots of controlled burns on prairie grass fields but never had the bad luck you did on with the fire truck going up. Glad everyone was ok.

SandburRanch · Apr 1, 2011

If a blown tranny stops the pump, it looks as if maybe a 20 horse back up engine and pump would be good insurance. At least it could save the truck.

Other sources of ignition - Spark from exhaust and catalytic converters. I've seen converter fires first hand in wheat fields caused by a pickup and the combine melted to the dirt.

SPYDERLK · Apr 1, 2011

QwikDraw said:
I was mowing a field with the Takeuchi and Davco and after making a pass and turning around I climbed back up the hill and could see smoke.

I crested the hill and a small fire had started in the field. I immediately looked in the mirror expecting to see the machine on fire but it was not. I attempted to "mow" the fire out but that didn't work and it lit the material on the mower. I tipped/flipped the mower and got most of the debris off and hauled butt across the field to my truck and called 911.
The fire dept shows up drives a tanker out in the field, blows the tranny and got swallowed by the fire. No one was hurt and they contained the fire to this 8 acre field but the truck was a total loss.

Amazing chain of events. Bet the fire dept is kicking itself silly. Im not sure how the Davco works, but Im guessing it doesnt have a sideward directional discharge. I find a bushog can control a grass fire real well by mowing right on its border with the natural discharge toward the middle.
larry