Area departments respond to combine fire

On Sept. 20, Grant Volunteer Fire Department was called to a combine fire near Madrid.

GVFD received mutual aid from both Madrid and Ogallala volunteer departments. 

According to GVFD Chief Don Softley, GVFD brought a pumper, two tankers and a command vehicle. MVFD was on scene with two grass rigs and one tanker and OVFD provided one tanker.

Damages to the combine were estimated around a few hundred thousand dollars. There was not a great deal of damage to the soybean crop being harvested at the time of the fire. Much of what did burn was soybean stubble that had already been harvested.

A faulty bearing within the combine resulted in the fire. 

An individual working nearby noticed smoke emanating from the combine and contacted the driver who was able to exit the combine without injury.