An area farmer is down one $120,000 combine after it caught fire Friday evening.

James Hartson, 66, of Waltham, was using the machine at 61500 290th St. around 5:30 p.m. when he noticed an indicator light come on.

Hartson exited the combine and saw flames shooting out from behind the front tires.

The Brownsdale Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze, but the eight-year-old combine was a total loss.

Hartson was not injured during the incident.

Sheriff Terese Amazi said backed up stalks are often the cause of combine problems.