Date: January 7, 2021
Location: Ashton, Iowa (USA)
Address: 4970 260th Street, 51232
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Ethanol Production
Equipment: Hammer Mill
Company: POET Biorefining
Database Incidents: This facility was referenced in a dust fire incident in October 2020.
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $10,000 USD
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, POET Biorefining is a producer of ethanol and other biorefined products. It is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota but has facilities in Washington, DC and Wichita, Kansas. Featured products include Dakota Gold distillers grains, Voila corn oil and JIVE asphalt rejuvenator.
Incident Description:
On January 8, 2021, KIWA Radio reported a fire at an ethanol plant in Ashton, Iowa.
Firefighters were called to the scene at around 3:15 p.m. They saw flames coming from the hammermill’s exhaust tube and called for an aerial truck, which was used to cool the tower. They remained on the scene for around two and a half hours.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a bad bearing.
No injuries were reported but there was about $10,000 damage.
Previous Incidents
This facility experienced a dust fire on October 29, 2020, covered in Caked-On Grain Dust Ignites Dryer Fire at Iowa Ethanol Production Plant.
Sources:
KIWA Radio
