Fire damage near the County Road 1 and Highway 62 intersection was limited Monday afternoon, thanks to Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue.

Local farmer Lloyd Crowe was harvesting wheat for Reynolds Brothers Farms when his combine came to an abrupt stop. He exited the machine to discover it had caught fire and was on the verge of becoming fully involved.

Witnesses on social media from as far away as Picton reported seeing a plume of black smoke and hearing a muffled explosion.

A 911 call came in at 4:23 p.m.

Fire crews from Bloomfield (Station 2), Picton (Station 1), and Wellington (Station 7)arrived on scene. Approximately 30 firefighters worked together to bring the blaze under control.

Given the extremely dry conditions in the field and light winds, the fire spread quickly across the wheat chaff. Intense heat prompted a temporary closure of County Road 1 for about 30 minutes to protect public safety and allow emergency crews to operate safely.

Quick Work

Despite the intense heat and challenging conditions, firefighters successfully contained the fire and prevented damage to nearby structures. No injuries were reported.

“I want to thank the firefighters who responded to this call. They worked incredibly hard in extreme heat, facing tough conditions with determination and professionalism,” stated Fire Chief Chad Brown. “Their quick action stopped this fire from spreading further and protected nearby properties. I’m proud of how they came together to contain this fire quickly.  This incident is a strong reminder of the dedication and resilience our firefighters bring to every call.”

The combine was a total loss and about five acres of wheat stubble burned in the blaze.

Prince Edward County Fire & Rescue reminds all residents and farmers to remain cautious during dry weather conditions, especially when operating equipment in fields. 

The County remains in a partial burn ban due to the extreme heat and dry conditions.