Firefighters battle three combine fires in Nokomis; Fire Chief urges caution

NOKOMIS, Ill. (WCIA) — The Nokomis Area Fire Protection District is urging farmers and other community members to be vigilant and cautious after responding to three combine fires in the past several days.

Chief Michael Smalley said that all three combine fires happened southeast of town. One combine fire began Friday evening, another happened Saturday evening, and the third happened Monday afternoon.

Out of all three, only Saturday’s fire left the combine a total loss. The other two combines were damaged, but appear to be repairable, Smalley said. Firefighters from the Witt Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid on Saturday and Monday.

After the string of fires, Smalley is stressing that it is important to be more vigilant about cleaning combines and reporting any fires quickly.

“We’re getting really dry, even little hot spots can turn big. Clean out your machines more often than normal,” Smalley suggested.

Any farmers who are interested in joining a “readiness initiative” should reach out to the fire protection district. Smalley said it’s a program in which farmers volunteer to have their tillage equipment ready to respond to fires; if a fire happens, the farmers can quickly work to create fire breaks.

Nokomis remains under a burn ban. Smalley said the ban will remain in effect until “substantial rain” alleviates the dry conditions.