The Farmers Elevator in Colfax, N.D., is working to resume grain-handling operations while crews clean up after a fire that caused heavy damage and investigators work to determine the cause of the blaze.
Estimates are still being compiled, but damage is expected to surpass $1 million, elevator board member Don Hendrickson told the Daily News of Wahpeton.
The early morning fire on Dec. 6 destroyed the elevator’s main structure and offices and two structures that together contained about 170,000 bushels of grain. About 100 firefighters from 12 area departments battled the flames for hours, then monitored the scene for days to guard against flare-ups, according to Colfax Fire Chief Wayne Gorder. No one was hurt.
The fire did not damage the elevator’s grain loading facility or its chemical and fertilizer operation. The elevator has set up a temporary office, and was able to accept barley last week, according to Hendrickson. It could begin accepting corn as early as the middle of this week.
The board plans to rebuild the destroyed structures, using steel instead of wood.
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