It doesn't take long for a mechanical failure to turn into a full-blown fire when you're out in the field. Just ask Jason LeBlanc, who posted a dramatic picture from a combine fire yesterday that he said took less than 30 seconds to completely destroy the machine. 

The Estevan Fire Department rushed to the scene southwest of the city yesterday afternoon to find the combine already engulfed in flames and the fire spreading to the nearby ground. The call came in at 2:30, and when they got there local farmers were already hard at work putting the fire out. 

"Crews did arrive on-scene to find that the combine was fully engulfed in flames and an ensuing ground fire that was occurring at the same time," said Fire Chief Dale Feser. "Crews were able to bring the fire under control quite quickly but by and large thanks to the assistance from local farmers and producers in the area."

Farmers used some of their heavier equipment to help construct fire breaks and bring plenty of water to the scene, helping keep the fire contained. Thanks in no small part to their efforts, no one was hurt in the fire despite how quickly it spread, and no crops were lost either. 

"This particular area has a really great sense of community," Feser said. "They have talk groups and chat groups and are very proactive when it comes to fire suppression stuff in the harvesting times. It's just a matter of them sending out a quick text to the group and they have people that are coming from all around with large machinery, which definitely helps in forming fire guards."

Feser added that, even though the preparation by the local farming community was admirable, this served as an excellent reminder of just how hot and dry it is outside. In fact, the fire department had gotten another reminder of this on Monday afternoon. 

"On Monday at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon," said Feser, "we were alerted to a report of a motor vehicle fire that was occurring on Highway 39 three miles east of Macoun. Crews arrived on-scene to find there was a camper van just inside the construction zone there that was suffering an electrical failure in the engine compartment."

Feser added the woman escaped without suffering any smoke inhalation. Fire crews were able to get into the camper van and save some of the woman's possessions as much of what she owned was in that van.