Thuringia: 15 hectares of barley destroyed in a field fire: flying sparks

Heiligenstadt (dpa/th) - A field fire destroyed about 15 hectares of barley south of Heiligenstadt in the Eichsfeld district. The fire on Monday afternoon was apparently triggered by flying sparks caused by a stone in a combine harvester, the police said on Tuesday. Accordingly, the total damage is estimated at 23,000 euros. Wind fanned the fire again and again, which made extinguishing work difficult. In the evening there was another field fire in Heiligenstadt, but it was quickly brought under control. The cause is said to have been a technical defect in a combine harvester.