The hot, dry conditions made it more difficult for firefighters to stop fast moving flames in the Belding area Saturday afternoon.
NEAR BELDING, Mich. (WZZM) - The hot, dry conditions made it more difficult for firefighters to stop fast moving flames in the Belding area Saturday afternoon.
Belding's Fire Chief says 15 to 20 acres of wheat burned when a combine's belt broke, falling onto the chaff, and starting the fire. The combine was also totalled in the fire.
Fire Chief Gregg Moore says on hot days like this, lots of water and extra firefighters are needed, so each crew member can get a break to cool down.
"[It was] tremendously difficult to work in this heat. The fire was very hot. We had some eight and ten foot flames, so it was very hard to get a handle on it intially," adds Moore.
Three fire departments responded to the field fire. Crews stopped the flames before they could reach a wooded area and nearby homes.