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NWIL | This
Every year we see pictures of the old farmer or landlord that just loves to ride in the combine, and see how a platform was put on a loader to hoist them up to ride or run the thing. Most responses are awww nature, maybe I’m an unemotional hard as, but I just grimace.
Personal viewpoint from just this fall. Terrible fire prone conditions in this area during the heart of harvest, more folks had either machine/field fires or embers then did not, me included. My 80 year old dad doesn’t do a lot in regards to direct help during harvest anymore due to age/health issues, but does like to ride with me for an hour or two each day and talk and watch how things unfold. I had a period of nagging embers showing up on my combine that myself and other knowledgeable folks couldn’t trace down for about two weeks, 4-5 times I’d smell smoke and bail out with my water cannons and take care of it. If I wasn’t relatively young with a tuned nose likely one of the times would have resulted in machine loss or severe damage. Second such time it happened he was riding with, I smelled a whiff, bailed out, saw the smoldering spot and was back up ladder for water cannon and down and had it doused before he was halfway down the ladder. He said right then and there he’s not riding anymore until there is full confidence the issue is resolved, and we get enough moisture to lessen the risk. As he said, we’re all gonna die someday, but he’s not gonna saddle my conscience if it were to happen under these circumstances, and I agreed totally. Once I finally figured out the cause and rectified it, and a few showers came through to get us back to normal he started his rides again.
Edited by j.p 11/4/2025 19:18
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Combine fire
