The recent hot and dry weather is wreaking havoc on farms and farmers, and the scant harvest is not all they’re concerned about.  Combine fires have broken out in multiple instances across central Illinois, including three in the Nokomis area.  Many counties are under burn bans, and farmers are having to take extra steps to prevent and stop fires and keep themselves safe. 

Carl Baker is the Assistant Director of Moultrie County’s Emergency Management Agency.  He says as hot as the weather gets, farm equipment heats up even more because of the material it’s made of and the effects of turning it on.

Fires can destroy more acreage than people may think.  This is because of the wide and growing perimeter of a fire as it spreads and expands, and other environmental factors may exacerbate this.

With the conditions as they are, farmers are taking matters into their own hands to avoid fires.  They are using leaf blowers, water tanks, and more.

So what else can farmers do to prepare?  Planning ahead and ensuring they are easily identifiable to first responders are other good steps, too. 

More information on the Moultrie County Emergency Management Agency is on their Facebook page. 

Carl Baker appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.