Keep all bearings and gears well lubricated to prevent heat buildup, and keep lubricants at proper levels.

Repair any leaks in the fuel system and any damaged electrical wiring.

Repair or replace damaged or worn-out exhaust systems. In addition to a good exhaust system, install a spark arrester to catch burning particles. They are easy to install and require little maintenance.

Never refuel equipment with the engine running. Always shut the engine off.

Allow hot engines to cool 15 minutes before refueling.

Extinguish all smoking materials before refueling.

If fuel spills on an engine, wipe away any excess and allow the fumes to dissipate before starting the engine.

Start harvesting a field on the downwind side. If a fire does occur, the flames will be pushed toward the harvested portion of the field.

Always carry a cellphone or alternative for communicating with others in case of an emergency.

Know the location of the field in relationship to letters or numbers on county roads. This seems obvious, but in the excitement of the moment, it’s easy to not be able to recall this information. More than once, volunteer firefighters have been paged for a field fire “northeast of town” and then had to look for the smoke.

Always carry two fire extinguishers on the combine, one in the cab and one that you can access from the ground. Also, carry a fire extinguisher in your grain hauling equipment.

If a field or equipment fire does occur, call 911 before trying to extinguish it yourself.

Have a tractor hooked to a disk near the field you are harvesting, but located where it wouldn't be affected if a field fire should occur.

If using a fire extinguisher, stay between the fire and your path to safety.

When using a fire extinguisher, remember to PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep: Pull the safety pin on the extinguisher. Aim it at the base of the fire. Squeeze the handle. Sweep the extinguisher back and forth while releasing the contents.