My Neighbor's Staw Field Caught Fire

[tcartwri]

I'll bet some corn fields will catch fire after this drought.

I've been thinking about this as well. We are surrounded on three sides by corn some of which is within 20 feet of my buildings. Saw a lighting strike ignite a field of tall grass beside the hwy the other night. The fire department was right on top of it within minutes.

How easy is it to burn corn in these conditions? Never experienced a summer like this before, nor have most of the farmers. I wonder how real the danger is.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Makes me want to reconsider keeping my 1965 Pumper/Tanker fire truck w 1000gal tank. Glad to hear the FD was able to knock it down.

idaho2

Reminds me of my hometown fire department...their first truck was an old converted gasoline truck. That first fire was a doozie! It would normally have burned out in about half an hour, but they managed to keep it going all day.

 

[idaho2]

Are you thinking of getting rid of it?

Kyle,

Yes. Just last month changed oil & filter including the drip oil reservoir for the pump.

idaho2

 

[sixdogs]

I've been thinking about this as well. We are surrounded on three sides by corn some of which is within 20 feet of my buildings. Saw a lighting strike ignite a field of tall grass beside the hwy the other night. The fire department was right on top of it within minutes.

How easy is it to burn corn in these conditions? Never experienced a summer like this before, nor have most of the farmers. I wonder how real the danger is.

Corn fires are easy to imagine in the fall after the corn "dries down". Best to leave a wide grass buffer around the house and have a Plan B if things go the wrong way.
We live in an area of zillions of acres of corn and beans and I don't relish the thought of a fire, even though I have seen a few.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Interesting to see them fight the fire from "in the green". We're taught to stay in the black. They appear to have paddles too; I have not seen those in this region.

If at all possible, you always fight a field fire from upwind. Look at the smoke.

 

[jimmyj]

I am amazed we don't see more of this. With the drought this year all I could think when I drove past dry fields of grain was "there's a wicked fire with just one small mistake by somebody". Glad it wasn't too bad.

 

[sixdogs]

I am amazed we don't see more of this. With the drought this year all I could think when I drove past dry fields of grain was "there's a wicked fire with just one small mistake by somebody". Glad it wasn't too bad.

Ahhh, patience...give it time...