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UTV goes up in smoke & flames near Oakland, Saturday

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November 10th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say no injuries were reported after a 4-wheeled off-road utility vehicle erupted into flames late Saturday morning, near Oakland. Oakland Fire Chief Brant Miller told the Daily NonPareil the Gator utility task vehicle (UTV) was being used to gather soil sampled in a harvested corn field about seven miles southwest of Oakland, when  it caught on fire at around 11:30-a.m., Saturday. Brant said wind blew the flames into the corn stubble and burned a small area.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, but it’s suspected the UTV either overheated or ignited some corn stubble. Oakland Fire & Rescue was assisted by fire crews from Minden who brought their grass trucks to the scene.