Regional departments called to tractor fire amid snow

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

Firefighters trudged through slush and snow to respond to a tractor fire at a cattle operation off of Highway 18 on Monday afternoon.

The cause of the fire at Link Land and Cattle east of Charles City is under investigation after a parked tractor caught fire inside a machine shed. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the tractor and remove it from the shed, Charles City Fire Chief Eric Whipple said.

“The structure is mainly OK” after firefighters were able to address hot spots inside, he said.

The fire is thought to have started in the tractor itself, although it was not under operation at the time fire started, Whipple said. There were no injuries reported.

The Charles City Fire Department was assisted by the Colwell and Ionia fire departments.

First responders were called out amid a worsening mix of rain and moisture-heavy snow, causing slick, slushy conditions along Highway 18 and other area roads.

Snow accumulation is expected to be less than 1 inch by the end of Monday, and the rain and snow is expected to end before 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning.