Farmer killed in tractor rollover
Man was trying to plough firebreak to control blaze in field
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 11:40 p.m., March 26, 2008
Updated 01:49 p.m., March 27, 2008
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An eastern Colorado farmer using a tractor to make a firebreak for an out-of-control burn died Wednesday when the tractor's wheels caught the edge of an irrigation ditch, flipped into the ditch and pinned the man.
Charles Wynne, 55, of Orchard was declared dead at the scene, along Country Road Y at the Riverside Irrigation Ditch in Morgan County.
Sheriff's deputies and members of the Wiggins Fire Department responded to reports Wednesday afternoon of an out-of-control prescribed burn on the property Wynne farms.
They discovered Wynne's body about an hour after getting the call.
One of the first arriving Wiggins firefighters had observed Mr Wynne going through the smoke on his tractor. It was in this immediate area that Mr Wynne's body was discovered later.
Wynne was plowing some of the ground that he farms when the fire started. It's not certain whether Wynne or the ditch company were doing the burn.
Sheriff's officers are investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
Comments
Posted by vudumom on March 27, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can understand landowners doing controlled burns to clear brush and to get land ready for planting.They need to watch the weather closely because the winds can kick up and that's when they get out of control. The weather the night before said it was going to be a beautiful day with classic chinook winds coming from the west out of the mountains.Even though I'm from the East I know the high probability of windy conditions at anytime.It is very dry right now down here and running firefighters all over because of not being extremely careful is dangerous as you can see.I'm sorry for the family's loss. I know that man was only trying to get things under control.It's sad he lost his life .Be careful people.
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