Farmer escapes injury after combine catches fire in Lawrence Township

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP – Firefighters from Bolivar extinguished a combine fire Wednesday afternoon in a field behind 10734 Welton Road NE.

A local farmer was harvesting soybeans in a leased field with a 1986 AGCO R-62 Gleanor combine when it suddenly became incapacitated. He noticed smoke coming from the rear of the machinery. He was able to safely exit the cab and shut off the fuel line. He then called 911 at 3:03 p.m., according to Bolivar firefighters.

While the call was initially dispatched to the East Sparta Volunteer Fire Department, Bolivar determined that it was in fact their fire. Sandy Township is on the east side of the street from the location of the incident.

Some cleanup of the field was required as oil residue from the engine compartment ran off through the process of extinguishing the fire, which Bolivar firefighters attended to with special absorbent pads used for mitigating spills.

The farmer said the harvested soy beans would eventually be salvaged using a special vacuum to help minimize losses beyond the combine itself. He said that the unit was insured.

Mineral City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sam Moore also responded to the call to assist in assessing the situation while on his way home. A deputy from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office was dispatched for traffic control.

No injuries were reported.

T-R staff photographer Andrew Dolph can be reached by phone at 330-289-6072, or by email at adolph3@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Combine fire in soybean field is extinguished by Bolivar firefighters