A pickup traveling through a field in Shelby County Monday afternoon, started a grass and field fire that consumed the truck. Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen told KJAN News the incident, which took place about three-miles west of the Harlan Municipal Airport, was reported at around 3:30-p.m.

Bissen said the truck, registered to Boeck Construction, out of Manilla, was on the scene while terrace work was underway, when it became stuck in a grassy ditch. Bissen says the truck started the grass on fire, before the flames spread to a partially combined corn field. He says they were able to get the fire contained before it spread to any standing corn.

Bissen said the pickup truck was totaled destroyed by the fire. The loss was estimated at $10,000 to $12,000. Firefighters from Harlan and Shelby were on the scene near 630th and Ironwood Road for about two-hours. No injuries were reported.

Bissen reports also, fire fighters from Harlan were called out early this (Tuesday) morning, with regard to a fire alarm at the Elm Crest Retirement Community. Crews were cancelled en route, because it turned out to be just a faulty smoke detector in the kitchen of the nursing home.