Farmer drives flaming combine out of field, may have save acres of farmland

NELIGH, Neb.- 

A northeast Nebraska farmer’s decision to drive his burning combine may have helped prevent more farm land from catching fire.

Neil Werkmeister’s combine caught on fire while he was harvesting around 11 a.m., about 18 miles north of Neligh.

Werkmeister said that after noticing flames in his field, he drove the combine out and into the intersection of 864th Rd. and 523rd Ave.

Firefighters working in nearby fields saw the flames and rushed to help.

Firefighters said it took about 30 minutes to extinguish the fire on the combine and in the field.

Fire officials said about 15 acres of corn burned in the process.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Despite losing his combine, Werkmeister tried to keep spirits light, noting that the corn hasn’t been yielding much this year anyway.