Date: May 18, 2021
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho (USA)
Address: Elmore County, 83647
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: JR Simplot Company
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, JR Simplot Company manufactures products for the livestock and agriculture industries. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, it is an international food and agriculture company with more than 11,000 employees. The company portfolio includes phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching, food processing, food brands, and other agriculture-related interests.
Incident Description:
On May 18, 2021, KTVB 7 reported an explosion at a grain elevator in Mountain Home, Idaho.
The explosion happened just before 5:00 p.m. in the granary transfer station. It was followed by several smaller explosions as small fires made contact with smouldering grain.
Emergency responders hurried to the site and evacuated the surrounding area while the Mountain Home Fire Department extinguished the fire. According to the Mountain Home Fire Chief, five silos were damaged at the top. He described them as “being like a bag of popcorn opening up at the top.”
One person was injured and taken to a hospital in Boise for treatment. According to the Mountain Home News, a GoFundMe account has been set up to aid his recovery.
It was reported that welding work was being done in the area and may have caused the initial explosion. The incident is still under investigation.
Sources:
KTVB 7
Mountain Home News
GoFundMe
