ORANGE CO. — On Saturday, September 19, orange flames and black smoke filled Orange County when a combine caught fire during the soybean harvest, just moments after a farmer and his young daughter had been inside the cab.
C.J. Fleenor, who farms near Orleans, was working with his four-year-old daughter, Caroline when he noticed an unusual smell. “I smelled something different—a sweet smell. I didn’t think anything of it at first,” he recalled. “I even asked Caroline if she had opened a snack, and she said no.”
But the odor lingered in the cab.
As they approached the end of the row, Fleenor calmly told Caroline to put on her shoes, sensing they needed to stop and check things out. His intuition proved crucial as he stepped out of the cab to investigate.
“I looked around the back of the combine and saw a little bit of smoke,” he said. Initially dismissing it as a minor problem, he grabbed a fire extinguisher on his way down the ladder. His father, helping him with the auger cart, rushed over when he saw the smoke. Together, they attempted to extinguish the fire smoldering on the hydraulic pump but soon discovered that the top of the fuel tank was already melting and on fire.
Within moments, the combine was engulfed in flames. Thankfully, C.J., Caroline, and his father were safe when the fire erupted. After the incident, Fleenor contacted his insurance agent and was able to purchase a new combine within days, quickly returning to the harvest.
Reflecting on the close call, Fleenor emphasizes the importance of heeding warning signs. “If you hear something, see something, or smell something unusual, don’t hesitate to stop,” he advises. “I’m guilty of wanting to keep moving, but a few minutes to double-check could make all the difference.”
His quick thinking and prompt action not only saved their lives but also served as a valuable reminder to fellow farmers about the importance of safety during harvest season.
