FLAT ROCK, Ind. — Anyone not familiar with farming might wonder what they’re seeing when they pass the Isley farm to the west near the intersection of highways 9 and 252 nine miles south of Shelbyville, Ind.

Out in the field, partly obscured by rows of late season browning cornstalks, is a metal hulk resting a few hundred yards off Highway 9.

Any passerby, familiar with farming or not, might think there’s something odd about the combine – but that could be either from the fact it’s not in motion this time of year, from the plastic yellow “Do Not Cross” tape erected around it or from its partly-charred appearance.

“I’ve never had a new combine, that’s perfect,” said Reggie Isley, who traded for the New Holland beauty last year and had it delivered shiny-new to the dealership in July.

His first day harvesting corn with it in early September – he doesn’t recall the specific date – he’d only put four hours on the equipment when a “high temperature” light came on the control panel. It wasn’t long before he noticed a fire under the combine and jumped out, grabbing the fire extinguisher, which turned out to have little impact.

The fire consumed the combine in only eight minutes, while Isley said he called 911. Neighbors and firefighters responded, and the flames were contained to the immediate area of the combine instead of spreading outward to the field – the only evidence of fire other than the machine and ground beneath it are some half-burned ears of corn scattered close around it.

Since then, Isley said the manufacturer and insurance company have had three investigators trying to determine what anyone can only term, so far, as “catastrophic failure.”

(An extension agent for Shelby County said this was just one of three combines to catch fire in the county this year.)

Though he said he regularly checks behind him while working the field now to make sure flames aren’t there, Isley doesn’t want to sully the equipment manufacturer’s name.

New Holland replaced his combine, and he said the new one has performed just fine.

He is quick to spread credit around to all who have helped immediately after and since the fire, including New Holland.

“Everybody has bent over backwards for us,” he explained.

Perhaps in the spirit of National Farm Safety and Health Week – which, ironically, wasn’t long after the fire happened – Isley added the experience has taught him that no matter what, “Your own safety is more important than the combine.”