SIDNEY, Ill. (WCIA) — Field and equipment fires are a harsh reality for many Central Illinois farmers in this dry and hot time. Many of those fires are being fought by volunteer fire departments.

At one family farm, it’s not going unnoticed.

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.

Kathy Schindler farms the land. She said as a thank you, she’ll be donating to the two fire houses.

“It gets my heart. These guys work so hard, and we need them, you know. They’re coming out, getting up there where there’s flames in the combine, where it’s dangerous, and we appreciate them so much,” Schindler said emotionally.

As field fires remain a high risk, she encouraged others who are able to also consider donating to their volunteer fire departments.