(La Porte County, IN) - Firefighters from multiple agencies were trying to put out a fire in a corn field between Kingsford Heights and Walkerton this afternoon.

Kenneth Michael said he just started harvesting corn on an 80 acre parcel when he first spotted what he described as a muck fire.  According to experts, muck fires result when loose, organic material below the surface of the ground ignites.  The layer below the surface can burn for weeks and reach temperatures above 500 degrees, experts said.

Michael said he did not know what caused the fire but speculated recent dry weather might have something to do with it.  He said all he could do was shut off his harvester and watch as firefighters headed out into his field to try and extinguish the blaze in the freshly harvested area of his field.

Michael said the flames pushed by the breezy conditions also advanced into some of his corn still in the ground.