Ira Hein, 86, longtime farmer from Hillsboro, died Wednesday (July 1) afternoon of injuries received in a wheat stubble fire north of Hillsboro.
According to the Marion County Sheriff?s office, a mid-morning controlled burn of a wheat-stubble field broached the fire line and Hein drove a tractor through the fire line to take care of the situation. It is believed that a fuel leak on the tractor caused it to burst into flames.
The call came into the sheriff?s office about 10:36 a.m. and emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at 230th and Indigo Road.
The victim was taken by private vehicle to Hillsboro Community Hospital, then was transported by medical helicopter to the Via Christi St. Francis Burn Unit with burns to 92 percent of his body.
He died at 3:30 p.m. at St. Francis.
