(SPRINGFIELD) With reports of August being the driest the Corn Belt has experienced since 2013, local fire departments throughout Illinois are asking for the help of farmers. With the ground and vegetation making the fire triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen very dangerous, the prime conditions are in place for fast spreading fires. Therefore hundreds of volunteer fire protection districts across rural areas of Illinois are taking a proactive approach to managing field fires this season by compiling a list of local farmers willing to bring in tillage equipment in the event of a large, fast-moving fire. Realizing it is a busy time for farmers, there is usually no commitment, just adding a name to a list of contacts.
