Geary County rural firefighters rolled to an area approximately three miles west of Junction City near the Rucker - Gfeller Road intersection about 5:30 p.m. Monday. There were not any injuries but a combine operated by Hildebrand Farms being operated on a wheat field malfunctioned and caught on fire. In addition to the combine the fire spread to the wheat field which consisted of about 22 acres, burning both stubble and some uncut wheat.
Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges estimated damage at $200,000. There is insurance coverage for the combine and the wheat that burned.
Geary County responded to the scene with six trucks and 15 firefighters and Dickinson County also sent five trucks to the field. Firefighters were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to a nearby field where there were round hay bales.
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Geary County assisted Dickinson County on another fire about 4 p.m. Monday involving a brome grass fire approximately seven miles west of Junction City.