Mechanical failure is to blame for a destructive vehicle fire near Emporia on Wednesday night.
Emporia Fire was dispatched to the 1600 block of Road R, about three miles due east of Emporia, around 7:30 pm after a tractor caught fire. Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Schmidt says the driver noticed smoke and later fire in the engine compartment as he was working in a field.
The driver got out safely, but the tractor was destroyed. The fire spread to a connected farm implement, which had moderate fire damage before the blaze was put out.
9 pm Wednesday: No injuries after fire develops in tractor
Emporia Fire Crews responded to their second of two fire calls in as many hours in the 1600 block of Road R Wednesday evening.
Crews were dispatched for a tractor fire shortly after 7:30 pm Wednesday evening. According to Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies on the scene, the operator of the tractor was working in a field in the area when he noticed smoke and later flames coming from the machine.
Crews had the fire under control shortly after their arrival. The cause of the fire is believed to have been a mechanical issue of some kind. The tractor’s driver was unharmed.
Further details are pending from the Emporia Fire Department. Traffic was halted in the 1600 block of Road R for about an hour as crews worked to quell the flames.
This incident followed an earlier semi fire in the 2200 block of Road V near the Reading Wind Facility.
