Oct. 7-12 is Fire Prevention Week! BUT fire safety should be front of mind more than just one week a year.  As Iowa’s annual harvest preparation hits full stride, the Iowa DNR encourages farmers to get reacquainted with fire prevention practices to keep the farm “fire wise.” Here are some things to keep in mind in your operation:

* Properly prepare machinery to reduce the chance of a field fire from an overheated bearing (check the manufacturer’s recommendations). A spark from an improperly lubricated combine can instantaneously ignite dry plants and field debris. Check that all fire extinguishers carried on the machinery are fully charged with loose powder inside. If the powder is not loose, remove the extinguisher from...