* WCIA last week…

[Central Illinois Farmer Marty Wilson] is taking his empty tanks and filling them with water to have in the fields in case of a fire. Because it’s so hot, dry, and windy, it’s a recipe for concern for farmers all over. They’re even thinking static electricity on combines could be starting fires. […]

Wilson has filled his empty 2,000 gallon tank with water. Homer and Sidney’s Fire Protection District Chief, Don Happ, said that it’s so important right now. […]

Taylorville, Owaneco firefighters battle field fire near Assumption [Happ] said that they have trucks designed to fight field fires. However, they only carry 450 gallons of water. […]

Wilson’s choice to fill the tank was the right move at just the right time. […]

He had another combine fire Tuesday morning, despite blowing off the equipment like they do every day. Wilson also said that the tank will now follow them to each field they’re in.

* WCIA yesterday…

Last week, one Central Illinois farm had three equipment fires in the fields within three days.

Both Sidney’s and Homer’s volunteer fire departments responded to help put them out.

* If it looks like your neighbor’s cornfield could double as a bonfire, you’re not wrong. The drought is intense. Check out the USDA drought monitor…

* Yesterday in Beecher via the Patch…

Dry conditions, gusty winds and terrain complicated efforts to combat a brush fire that quickly spread in Beecher Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

The fire started in tall grass and ran into woods nearby, consuming nearly 40 acres before being brought under control. Crews were on scene for eight hours, working late Saturday night to ensure all hot spots were out, Beecher Fire Protection District Chief Joseph Falaschetti said. […]

Difficult terrain and limited access points complicated efforts, Falaschetti said. Firefighters used residential driveways to get access. As the fire spread, it was escalated to a third alarm, calling for additional resources from neighboring communities. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) drone was called in to gain an aerial view to help with placement of crews and equipment, Falaschetti said. […]

In total, more than 52 firefighters, 3 engines, 5 tenders, 9 brush trucks, and 8 chief officers from multiple agencies operated at the scene. The fire was brought under control by approximately 5 p.m., though crews remained on site until around 10 p.m. to cut through dense brush and fully extinguish remaining hot spots. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

* Ford County battled its own field fire yesterday. WCIA…

At least 40 fire departments battled a massive field fire for hours on Sunday. Officials said the fire started in a Ford County bean field and traveled several miles.

The fire began near 3500 North and 1700 East Road at 1 p.m. But, Kempton’s fire chief said it spread — jumping to a corn field, a field of stalks, then to standing corn, and then to a standing bean field. The fire burnt around three homesteads — but firefighters and farmers were able to keep the flames from reaching all three. […]

The last of the firefighters were able to clear the scene around 8 p.m. Fire officials remind the public that burn bans remain in effect.

* More drought side effects via WCIA…

Drought conditions and harvesting season are proving to be a dangerous combination, kicking up dust and reducing visibility across some area highways in Central Illinois.

Ed Shimon, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said drivers should know what to do in case they encounter a localized area where harvesting activities are kicking up localized dust events.

“Those really dry crops, because of the low moisture content, is creating more of that dusty debris that’s actually reducing visibility across roadways more frequently this year,” Shimon said. “The guidance on that is to pull off to the side of the road as far off the road as you can get.”

It’s not the only negative coming out of this year’s drought though. U of I agronomy professor Giovani Preza Fontes said it’s so dry, farmers are looking at potential yield losses. He said soybean fields are supposed to be harvested at 13%.

“Most of the fields will be harvested with moisture below 10%,” Preza Fontes said.

* There’s at least some rain on the way, though not much…

* WAND | Rain chances and turning much cooler: Ahead of a cold front moving through the Midwest this morning, highs today will top out in the 80s again. That front will bring scattered showers and storms to the area this afternoon into Tuesday morning. While rainfall amounts for most of us will stay under one-half inch, we’ll take it.

* WTVO | Northern Illinois to welcome scattered rain chances after long dry spell: Rain should wind down before mid-morning Tuesday. As previously discussed, this won’t put much of a dent in the drought situation. Most locales should end up with a quarter to a half inch of rain. Highest totals look to occur to our north and west.

* More…

* WCIA | Crews respond to Philo field fire with heavy smoke Sunday afternoon: The fire burned about 20 acres of corn stubble but no injuries were reported. Chalmers added that there was no equipment in the field when the fire started. The fire crews were able to clear the scene around 1:30 p.m.

* Lawrence County Post | Illinois drought monitor says dry conditions to continue: No large rains are in the immediate forecast for next week. A windy, hot, dry weekend is in store which will lead to high fire danger across the area. Lawrence County fire officials remind residents that a burn ban continues until further notice.

* KWQC | Roads back open after large field fire breaks out in rural Knox County: The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said roadways are back open around Rio, Illinois after a large field fire near the village. Around 2:20, large plumes of smoke could be seen in fields between Knox Road 200 East and Knox Road 100 East. As of 3:15, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said there are road closures on Knox Highway 33 from Knox Highway 34 to Rio and Knox Highway 2 from US Highway 150 N to Rio due to the fire.

* QWAD | Multiple cornfield fires erupt in Knox County: Three standing cornfields were reported burning in the area of Knox Road 100 East. Firefighters issued a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Box 31 call, summoning additional tenders and brush trucks from surrounding departments to help contain the flames.

* River Bender | Field Fire Near Lamb Road Draws Multi-Department Response: Firefighters arrived to find flames moving quickly through the area, prompting calls for multiple tanker trucks due to limited water availability. Departments seen on the scene was Olive, New Douglas, Worden, Hamel, Alhambra, Staunton, and Medowbrook assisted in containing the blaze. The fire was reported to be under control by approximately 4:15 p.m. No injuries were reported.

* WCIA | One injured, nearly 200 without power after combine, field fire in Clinton: A combine and field fire injured one and left almost 200 people without power Tuesday afternoon in Clinton. At approximately 12:02 p.m., Clinton firefighters were dispatched to the area of Reagan Road and Illinois Route 54 for a combine and field fire. Firefighters arriving on the scene found a fire in a bean crop and a combine fully engulfed under power lines.

* WCIA | 16 fire trucks respond to field fire near St. Joseph; 30-45 acres burned: No one is hurt following Friday’s field fire near St. Joseph, fire officials said. The fire burned an estimated 30 to 45 acres of land before it was extinguished at around 3:30 p.m. Officials from the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District said on Facebook that despite the dry conditions, standing corn and a breeze, firefighting efforts by first responders and farmers’ work to create firebreaks kept the fire from being any worse.

* WAND | Macon county field fire: A huge field fire sparked up between Blue Mound and Macon near Blue Mound Road leaving smoke to rise throughout the area. WAND has reached out to Blue Mound Fire Protection District is waiting to hear back about details. This was not the only incident in which Central Illinois saw a field fire on Sunday and might not be the last, however, improving conditions are expected to be on the way.