September 1, 2023 – A tractor caught fire while baling hay this afternoon near 12121 Sorrel Dr. Excelsior Springs. Fortunately, the crew operating the machinery made it out safely; however, the equipment was not so lucky. The fire resulted in a total loss of both the tractor and the baler.
Around 2:00 PM, a two-man crew was in the process of baling hay for Ed and Pam Piepergerdes when one of the drivers noticed smoke coming from his baler. The driver acted swiftly, evacuated the tractor, and attempted to disconnect the baler, but it was too late. The dry hay served as the perfect kindling for a blazing hot fire, forcing him to abandon the equipment.
The other driver, left his own equipment, came over and helped his fellow operator to safety, and then moved as much of the cut hay away from the blaze as he could to help prevent the spread of the fire. Firefighters from the Excelsior Springs Fire Department arrived at the scene and managed to control the fire, keeping the flames from reaching a nearby wooded area.
The burning tires created a plume of thick black smoke that rose high into the air and could be seen for many miles. Neighbor, Jeff Kimsey saw the smoke as he was leaving Elkhorn Elementary. “As I got closer I was worried it was my house, then I was worried it was the Piepergerdes’ house,” he explained. Mr. Piepergerdes said he couldn’t be sure but he estimated the equipment’s worth to be a half-million dollars or more. “It’s devastating to think about the financial impact something like this can have,” he said.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
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