Fire near Brookings damages tractor, baler

Fast-moving blaze caused $30,000 in damage

By Mondell Keck

The Brookings Register

Posted 9/17/24

BROOKINGS — A weekend blaze just southwest of Brookings caused an estimated $30,600 in damage to agricultural equipment, but no injuries were reported.

The incident on Saturday afternoon …

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Fire near Brookings damages tractor, baler

Fast-moving blaze caused $30,000 in damage

Posted

BROOKINGS — A weekend blaze just southwest of Brookings caused an estimated $30,600 in damage to agricultural equipment, but no injuries were reported.

The incident on Saturday afternoon involved a tractor and baler, Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring wrote in a Monday news release from the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office. It occurred in a field near 468th Avenue and 216th Street and occurred at 2:37 p.m.

A John Deere 4440 and John Deer 568 round baler were baling hay when the operator saw smoke coming from the baler. He attempted to disconnect the baler, but was unable due to the quick spread of the fire, Sebring wrote. Firefighting crews from the Brookings and Volga fire departments arrived and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, but not before the equipment and bales were damaged.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the incident.