One person suffered severe injuries from a Thursday morning farm field fire in Guthrie County.

Guthrie County Sheriff Marty Arganbright tells Raccoon Valley Radio his deputies, along with the Greene County Sheriff, Yale, Jamaica, Bagley and Bayard Fire Departments, and Panora EMS responded to the fire in the 2800 block of 110th Street. Arganbright says a fire happened in a corn stalk field and then spread to a tractor that appeared to be trying to control the fire but spread to the farm implement and resulted in the operator being badly burned.

Bagley Fire Chief Jeremy Cooper says that it appears the tractor operator was attempting a controlled burn of the field, which had flooded last year. He adds that the current dry conditions and winds caused the fire to get out of control, engulfing the tractor and operator. Cooper says the tractor is a total loss, and that the operator suffered burns to over 50-percent of his body. He adds that the fire crews have been able to control the blaze.

Arganbright says the individual was taken by air ambulance to a Des Moines hospital and later transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Burn Unit. He appreciates all of the volunteer fire departments, especially in this situation where their response was key in helping to prevent the incident from getting worse. The name of the victim has not been released at this time. The incident remains under investigation with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.

Cooper advises residents that there is a burn ban in effect for Guthrie and Adair counties, and that it is urgent that people obey the ban. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that residents should always contact local fire officials to see if it is or is not safe to do a controlled burn.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.