Gear Box Blamed For Corn Field Fire

A hot gearbox under a corn head is being blamed for a fire in a corn field farmed by Mike Zegers. The field, being combined south and west of Elgin, caught fire shortly after noon on Saturday.
According to Elgin Fire Chief Jim Kittelsen, the call was received by the department shortly before 1 p.m. By the time fire crews arrived on the scene, it had been pretty well contained with the help of a disc.
Kittelsen said approximately one quarter of an acre of standing corn was burned.