July 17, 2008
By Larry Kershner
Fort Dodge Messenger - Fort Dodge, IA
ALTON — The grain terminal in this southeast Sioux County community felt the concussion of an explosion last Wednesday opening a huge fissure ruining the five concrete silos at Midwest Farmers Cooperative.
Photo: The rupture in the concrete elevator of Midwest Farmers Cooperative in Alton is evident after last Wednesday’s explosion. Grain burned for several days following the blast. (Renae Vander Schaaf)
Injured in the blast and resulting fire was Mathew Galles, 31, of Remsen, who was unloading at the time of the explosion. He was treated for second- and third-degree burns over 22 percent of his boy.
Galles was listed in fair condition the next day at the burn unit at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb.
Farm News correspondent Renae Vander Schaaf, who lives in Alton, reported that the town had the heavy pungent smell of burnt corn hanging over it.
Vander Schaaf said the ruptured elevator was still smoking two days after the blast because the grain was still on fire.
In a follow-up story, the Sioux City Journal reported that teams of fire fighters were trying to attack the burning structure with aerial equipment, but that that effort failed due to the intensity of the fire.
The State Fire Marshall’s office was called in to investigate. but, so far, that effort has been hindered the by heat.
“The blast’s cause hasn't been determined,” reads the Journal article, “but officials said Wednesday night they believe it started in the elevator’s grain-delivery system.”
In a faxed statement to area media, Skip Hein, Midwest elevator general manager, said that the salvage and reclamation crews continue to carefully dismantle parts of the terminal structure while removing the corn and soybeans.
“This process has been hindered due to continuing fires in certain parts of the structure,” the statement reads. “It is estimated that about half of the original grain volume in the structure (total volume unknown) will be removed by the end of this week and that hopefully by the end of the week of July 21 that the grain will be removed and with it the fire hazzards.”
Once the fires are extinguished structural engineers and the State Fire Marshals Office will gain access into the facility and complete their evaluations, Hein said.
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