Farmers are extremely busy in wheat fields this time of year. With dry conditions which are prime for harvesting, it also puts the crops at an added risk, which has the potential to result in devastating blows to yields.
On Wednesday afternoon at 207PM, Aylesford firefighters were dispatched to a report of a straw field on fire in Auburn.
With wind gusts and dry conditions, a fire broke out in a wheat field which had just began to be harvested. The fire had spread rapidly through a large crop, with heavy smoke being seen from afar, resulting in numerous 911 calls coming in from various locations.
Upon the arrival of the fire department, heavy flames were moving across the field in multiple locations, quickly approaching nearby structures and moving into the adjacent wood-line and neighbouring fields.
Residents in the area assisted firefighters with suppression efforts, helping move hose and knocking down flames with shovels that had made their way into fields of grass.
Additional mutual aid was requested bringing in firefighters and tankers from Berwick, Kingston, Middleton & Waterville Fire.
Aylesford, along with mutual aid departments, converged on different areas of the field, cutting the fire off from spreading to more wooded areas. They made impressive headway in such a large field within a short period of time.
Crews continued to chase fire in numerous locations, working to contain it from spreading further.
As a result, Department of Natural Resources and Renewables attended as the fire entered an area of the woods.
Mutual aid crews along with DNRR staff worked to contain the fire to a small area of the woods.
Unfortunately the majority of the crop was uncut, resulting in a total loss to the yield.
Shawn Carey, Aylesford & District Fire Chief, was able to confirm the fire had started from a piece of the machine overheating and falling off into the field, with dry conditions and wind gusts also playing a major factor in driving the fire so quickly in a short period of time.
There were no reported injuries or other structures impacted as a result. No farm equipment was impacted either.
Nictaux Firefighters also provided standby coverage at the Kingston Fire Station during the incident.
EHS Paramedics provided standby on scene while dozens of fire crews battled the fire in warm tempatures.
Great work by all firefighters and residents!
Adrian J.
