Date: June 10, 2019
Location: Brewster, Minnesota (USA)
Address: 931 1st Avenue, 56119
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Silo
Company: New Vision Cooperative
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Person Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, New Vision Cooperative is a grain cooperative with 19 locations and over 2,000 member-owners in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa and eastern South Dakota. Headquartered in Brewster, Minnesota, it specializes in the production of livestock feed, grain marketing and agronomy services.
Incident Description:
On June 12, 2019, World Grain reported a fire and explosion at a grain cooperative in Brewster, Minnesota.
On June 10, firefighters responded to a report of a fire shortly before 10:00 a.m. According to The Globe, there was a lot of smoke coming out of a grain silo but no visible flames. The Brewster Fire Chief said that as the corn burned, it fused together, preventing water from penetrating it and keeping the grain from pouring out.
At 5:40 p.m. the next day, working from an open doorway and a hole in the floor, crews drew the grain out while firefighters sprayed water in to cool it. When the water hit the smouldering corn and pushed it toward grain dust, an explosion occurred.
One firefighter was sent to the hospital with back and shoulder pain. No other injuries were reported.
Sources:
World Grain
The Globe (June 11)
The Globe (June 12)
