Date: September 5, 2019
Location: Custar, Ohio (USA)
Address: 9266 Custar Road, 43511
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Silo
Company: Legacy Farmers Co-Op
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company’s website, Legacy Farmers Co-Op is an agricultural co-op headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. It was founded in 1988, deals in grain, pet care supplies, and petroleum products, and has locations across Ohio.
Incident Description:
On December 2, 2019, 13 ABC reported that an October grain silo explosion at a farmer’s co-op in Custar, Ohio, still had residents feeling uneasy and staying indoors. They complain about the smell and have expressed fears of another explosion, although the co-op’s President and CEO stated that the fire is out and residents are not in danger.
According to the BG Independent, a silo fire was reported on September 5. It was caused by wet grain stored outside the silo due to an unusually large harvest. As it sat there, the grain warmed up, and smoldered after it was moved into the silo. Eventually, a fire occurred.
The grain continued to smolder. In mid-October, Milton Township Fire District was trying to cool it from above with water when the roof blew off. No one was injured.
On November 5, the BG Independent reported that the three silos had been smoldering since the explosion. A contractor had been engaged to empty them, but was not successful, so a second contractor was hired. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office took its drone to the elevator to get images from overhead and used thermal imaging to detect heat.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up two OSHA inspections for the Legacy Farmers Co-Op in Custar, Ohio, one of which was flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
13 ABC
BG Independent
