County Tractor Catches Fire After Welding Repair

No Injuries Reported

Burned county tractor. (submitted by G. Carroll)

Darren Doyle, story:
A tractor used by the Edmonson County Road Department caught fire and completely burned on Thursday, February 27th as the result of welding repair during its use.

County Road Supervisor Greg Carroll said two county employees were operating the tractor with a ditching attachment on E. Hack Road in the Segal Community when a piece broke from the tractor. They stopped at the intersection of KY HWY 655 to weld the piece, but after the repair was completed, Carroll said the tractor caught fire.

"After they finished welding and put everything up and started to leave, flames were coming through the floor of the tractor," he said. 

Carroll also said that as the operator exited the machine, the back glass blew from the heat and the fire department was called. Responding to the scene were the Brownsville, Bear Creek, and Kyrock fire departments to extinguish the fire; however, the tractor was reported as a total loss.

Carroll said he will seek fiscal court's permission to replace the tractor, which was also used to mow county right-of-ways. Carroll said the replacement will have to be bid due to it's value exceeding $30,000. 

​No injuries were reported.