Fire claims combine, 163 acres

Photos by Rylee Metzger

Sunflower harvest; every farmers’ nail biter. Its almost guaranteed. Every year at least one combine per county in the midwestern states will be lost to a sunflower harvest inflicted fire. Mid-afternoon on Wednesday, November 29 those statistics struck our county. The Murdo Fire Department responded to the scene of a combine fire on local Jones County farm, Miller Farms. Against best efforts, the combine was a total loss along with 163 total burned acres. The Murdo Fire Department was on scene for approximately eight hours with the help of Draper, Okaton, Vivian, Presho, White River and Fort Pierre Fire Departments. Several surrounding neighbors also pitched in to help contain the fire. Later in the week, the Draper Volunteer Firemen were called back to duty as a second combine fire struck the county. Fortunately, the Matthew Farm’s combine was able to be salvaged. Thank you to our volunteer firemen who, as always, do an excellent job taking care of our town, community and county.