Preparing and responding to combine fires

As we move into fall harvest, a large percentage of Nebraska is in moderate to exceptional drought conditions. Fire is of high concern due to weather conditions conducive for fires to move quickly throughout the landscape.

Beyond conducive weather conditions, equipment has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. Compared to older machines, today’s equipment is bigger, more complex, and carries more oil and fuel. On combines, shields, panels and fuel tanks used to be made out of metal but are now mostly synthetic, which can easily catch on fire. When smoldering crop residue meets...