Date: May 11, 2022
Location: Peoria, Illinois (USA)
Address: 1 Edmund Street, 61602
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Ethanol Production
Equipment: Grain Silo
Company: BioUrja Renewables
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Two Injured
Capital Cost: $2million USD
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, BioUrja Renewables is a biofuels provider headquartered in Houston, Texas. It is an alcohol distillation company and fuel ethanol maker. In October 2021, the company bought the Peoria, Illinois location from Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).
Incident Description:
On May 11, 2022, 25 News reported an explosion at an ethanol production plant in Peoria, Illinois.
According to the Journal-Star, when firefighters arrived just before 9:00 p.m., they found several large grain bins that were on fire and heavily damaged. Three 150-foot silos were leaning over and one had collapsed. A second silo later collapsed and fire developed in a third silo, creating worries about another explosion. Two employees suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at a local hospital.
Six days later, on May 17, CI Proud reported that firefighters were continuing to work on extinguishing fires inside grain silos at the plant. The Peoria Fire Department, Chicago Fire, and Germantown Hills Fire Department were all at the scene.
The Peoria Fire Chief said that by putting water on the fire, the temperature of the third silo decreased from 500 degrees to about 80 degrees, decreasing the chance of collapse. Foam engineers were also on scene, helping to mitigate the flames.
Damage was estimated at $2 million USD. A company spokesman said that OSHA was at the scene.
Sources:
25 News
Journal-Star
CI Proud
