Combine harvester fire breaks out in Thaxted field
It's believed the machine overheated before it burst into flames
Fire crews from four Essex stations spent hours putting out a burning combine harvester in a stubble field near Holders Green Road last night, after it is believed to have overheated.
Firefighters from Thaxted, Wethersfield, Dunmow and Newport were called at around 9pm on Wednesday to a combine harvester on fire in a field near Holders Green Road, Thaxted.
A spokesperson for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “When crews arrived, they found the combine harvester well alight and worked to extinguish the fire in the open field.”
While crews tackled the blaze, the farmer used a plough to create a fire break and stop the flames from spreading.
Firefighters believe the fire started accidentally due to the machine overheating.
The service say: "Farming machinery is one of the top causes of rural/farm fires.
"You can reduce the risk of a fire by ensuring machinery and vehicles are well maintained and serviced regularly, clean machinery regularly to keep it free from hay, straw, oil and grease".