A farm equipment and field fire on Monday afternoon in rural Steward resulted in a fatality, Rochelle Fire Department Captain Zach Prewett said.

RFD was called at 3:29 p.m. to Reynolds Road, about a mile west of Steward Road, for a field fire with a combine, tractor and grain cart involved. The report said there was a fatality and the state fire marshal and Lee County Coroner’s Office were called to the scene to investigate it, Prewett said. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released.

Prewett said a combine sustained fire damage and a tractor and grain cart were completely engulfed in flames upon firefighters’ arrival. Both vehicles along with a utility vehicle were a total loss and 15 acres of farmland burned, some with standing crops and some without. No firefighters were injured in the incident.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Prewett said it is suspected to be equipment failure.

RFD Chief Dave Sawlsville said Monday night that the deceased individual was the only farmer on scene. The fire was called in by a passerby. Monday saw an increased risk of field fires due to dryness and wind, Sawlsville said.

Sawlsville said fire officials believe the fire started in one of the pieces of equipment and spread to the field and other pieces of equipment. The deceased individual was located inside the cab of the combine and there was no indication of foul play, the RFD chief said.

“An autopsy will take place and we will learn more about what transpired,” Sawlsville said. “There could have been a medical issue. We’re not sure yet. This goes to show why farming is one of the most dangerous occupations.”

Responding agencies included RFD, the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District stations of Hillcrest, Flagg Center, Steward and Creston, Lee Fire, Paw Paw Fire, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Lee County Coroner’s Office.

Just before responding to the Reynolds Road call, Rochelle Fire was on scene of a separate field fire at 3567 E. Gurler Road, where about 18 acres of crops burned. There were no injuries in that incident and area farmers plowed around the fire to limit it.