Sunday September, 15 2024 @ 10:09

Nature: Vehicle Fire Farm/Equip

Location: 24903 Townsend Road, Millsboro, DE  19966

On Sunday morning, September 15^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a vehicle fire (farm equipment) in the field off Townsend Road with exposure to the entire corn field.   

Emergency response units from Indian River included Rescue 80, Chief 80-15, Incident Command 80 and Utility 80-11 with Polaris 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Tanker 80 and Engine #80-1 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police. 

Emergency response crew assignments included fire suppression of the combine tractor fire as well as efforts to curtail the spread further into the corn field.

It appears that a farmer was harvesting his crop in the corn field when the combine caught fire igniting a portion of the field as well.  Rescue 80 arrived and quickly deployed two 2” fire suppression attack lines with one addressing the combine fire and the other addressing the advancing field fire.  Tanker 80 was utilized for manpower and water supply to further suppress the fire.

The Delaware State Fire Police provided traffic control with closure of Townsend Road for the duration of the incident.