Elevated Fire Dangers in Fields Oct. 4

OMAHA (DTN) -- A combination of strong winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 to 45 mph, dry cropland, above-normal temperatures, and low relative humidity has increased fire dangers in several Midwest states for Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for a large area of Nebraska, as well as a special weather statement for several states, including Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota and into Illinois.

"Fires will spread rapidly and show erratic behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended. People are urged to exercise extreme care with respect to outdoor activities that could cause grass or crop fires. Avoid equipment that can cause sparks. Do not toss cigarettes on the ground," stated the NWS offices in Omaha/Valley in Nebraska, Sioux Falls in South Dakota, and Des Moines, Iowa. "Report new fires quickly to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office."

RED FLAG WARNINGS IN NEBRASKA

A large number of counties in Nebraska are under red flag warnings, valid from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. NWS has forecasted the humidity will fall to around 20%. "Though humidity will likely remain above critical levels, the expected magnitude of winds with mild temperatures will likely lead to erratic behavior and rapid spread of any fire starts. Any lingering hot spots from previous days will pose reignition threats given strong winds and mostly sunny skies," noted NWS from its office in North Platte. It added that "Stronger wind gusts are possible, especially over north central Nebraska, where 50 mph or greater are possible."

However, conditions improve as "Winds shift tonight behind an approaching front and while directional change will likely be abrupt, it'll also herald diminishing winds and quickly increasing low-level moisture including rain chances," said NWS.

ALL IOWA UNDER FIRE DANGER TODAY

The entire state of Iowa is under elevated fire danger today. The NWS Des Moines office, as well as the Quad Cities office, urged people to "take care to prevent the start of accidental fires when smoking or operating vehicles and farm equipment around dry vegetation or crops."

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor has shown increasing areas of abnormal dryness and moderate to severe drought since two weeks ago, especially from Missouri stretching northeast. (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/…)

On Friday, the Upper Midwest Agricultural and Health Center sent a press release reminding that October is Fire Prevention Month, and the risk of fire increases as crops dry out.

"Hot equipment or engine sparks interacting with dry plant material and grain dust can become a highly combustible combination, making field fires a major concern for farmers," said UMASH. The organization has created a downloadable, printable pdf checklist called Farm Safety Check: Preventing Field Fires. The checklist includes confirming if things were done, if they need a correction, date corrected and space for other notes. (See https://umash.umn.edu/…)

There is also a list of additional resources at that URL to help avoid equipment, field and building fires.

The Safety Checklist includes:

-- Do you regularly clean areas where chaff or plant material can build up? (Try an air compressor or leaf blower to remove crop residue, and a pressure washer to remove built up oil or caked-on grease.)

-- Have you checked that bearings and gears are well lubricated and there are no worn bearings or other areas that could overheat?

-- Did you check for damaged wires with worn insulation or frayed belts?

-- Have you checked that fuses match the recommended capacity?

-- Are exhaust systems in good repair/conditions, with preventative measures like a spark arrestor?

-- Have you made sure engines are off and hot engines have cooled for at least 15 minutes when refueling equipment?

-- Have you extinguished all open flames before refueling?

-- Are any repairs needed to fix leaks in the fuel system? Did you wipe away any excess fuel that spilled on the engine, let fumes dissipate before starting the engine, and remove oily rags that are placed near equipment or in the cab?

-- Do you have two working and charged fire extinguishers on the combine, tractor or grain hauling equipment? Do you have one in the cab and one to access from the ground?

-- Are you carrying a cell phone or an alternative to communicate with others in case of an emergency?

-- Have you checked the weather one to two weeks in advance or daily to note any forecasted extreme weather events?

See more DTN coverage on preventing and fighting combine fires, as well as fires created by other ag equipment and vehicles on the field, at https://www.dtnpf.com/…. To find more weather conditions and your local forecast for free from DTN, head over to https://www.dtnpf.com/….

"Equipment fires, specifically combine fires, are a serious threat during the harvest season," North Dakota State University Extension Farm and Ranch Safety Coordinator Angie Johnson stressed in a news release in 2024. "No one wants to lose their combine or the remaining unharvested crop in the field due to fire. The biggest risk, however, is the loss of human life, as combines, crops and other equipment can be replaced -- you cannot."

Elaine Shein can be reached at elaine.shein@dtn.com

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