ALBANY - An Albany man died Wednesday while fighting a cornfield fire on West Weary Road near North Weary Road in Magnolia township in Rock County, according to Capt. Jude Maurer of the Rock County Sheriff's Department.
James Haddinger, 63, was pronounced dead at about 6:15 p.m. at the scene by Louis Smit, Rock County chief deputy coroner.
According to the sheriff's department, Haddinger was conducting a controlled burn of some tall grass on his property when the wind changed directions and caused the fire to spread to a neighbor's field.
Haddinger's adult son, Matthew Haddinger, responded with a tractor and began tilling the field to prevent the fire from spreading. James Haddinger followed behind the tractor trying to knock down the flames with a shovel. Matthew saw his father on the ground and summoned help.
The Rock County Sheriff's Department, the Evansville Police Department, and emergency medical service personnel from Evansville and Janesville responded to the scene.
James Haddinger, 63, was pronounced dead at about 6:15 p.m. at the scene by Louis Smit, Rock County chief deputy coroner.
According to the sheriff's department, Haddinger was conducting a controlled burn of some tall grass on his property when the wind changed directions and caused the fire to spread to a neighbor's field.
Haddinger's adult son, Matthew Haddinger, responded with a tractor and began tilling the field to prevent the fire from spreading. James Haddinger followed behind the tractor trying to knock down the flames with a shovel. Matthew saw his father on the ground and summoned help.
The Rock County Sheriff's Department, the Evansville Police Department, and emergency medical service personnel from Evansville and Janesville responded to the scene.