Date: May 9, 2019
Location: Decatur, Illinois (USA)
Address: 4666 East Faries Parkway, 62526
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Grain Dryer
Company: Archer Daniels Midland
Database Incidents: This facility was referenced in dust explosion incidents in November 2018 and January 2019.
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, ADM is a leading agricultural processor and food ingredient providers, with an estimated 31,000 employees serving customers in over 170 countries. It was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis as Daniels Linseed Co. and became Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) in 1923. Today, its holdings include 500 crop procurement locations, 270 food and feed ingredient manufacturing facilities, and 44 innovation centers.
Incident Description:
On May 14, 2019, Powder & Bulk Solids reported a May 9 fire at a grain processing facility in Decatur, Illinois.
Firefighters responded to the incident, which occurred in the corn plant feedhouse at approximately 10:45 a.m. They determined that hot maintenance work on a piece of drying equipment caused the fire.
While employees evacuated as a precaution, firefighters worked for over six hours to put the fire out. The Decatur Fire Department later stated that the effort lasted for hours because the fire was “difficult to reach and fully extinguish.” The flames were fully extinguished by 5:00 p.m.
No one was injured and there was minimal property damage.
Previous Incidents:
This facility experienced a dust explosion on November 3, 2018, covered in Firefighters Called to Dust Explosion at Decatur Food Processing Plant. On January 4, 2019, another dust explosion occurred, this one covered in No Injuries Reported in Dust Explosion at Illinois Grain Processor.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
