Date: March 8, 2018
Location: Beason, Illinois (USA)
Address: 2140 Clinton St., 62512
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Corn
Industry: Grain Storage (Agriculture)
Equipment: Grain Elevator, Bearing
Company: Topflight Grain Cooperative Inc.
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unknown
Company Description:
According to the company website, Topflight Grain Cooperative Inc. is a farmer-owned grain cooperative in the middle of the Illinois grain belt.
The company was originally formed in 1998 as the consolidation of three local grain cooperatives. Following additional mergers in 2000, 2003 & 2014, Topflight Grain Cooperative now serves grain producers in Piatt, Macon, Moultrie, Dewitt, Douglas, Champaign, & Logan counties. In total, their nineteen facilities are able to store 37 million bushels of grain. The Beason site has a capacity of 1,489,000 bushels.
The annual volume of the company is 40 million bushels with grain sales exceeding $240 million. Their main facility is located in Monticello, Illinois.
Description of Grain Elevator Explosion:
On March 8, 2018, WAND-TV reported that there had been a small explosion at a grain elevator in Beason, Illinois.
Powder Bulk Solids said that fire crews were called to the elevator at Topflight Grain Cooperative Inc. in Beason, IL at about 4 pm after a local resident called 911 to report the explosion. The caller said the blast shook the walls of their home.
The Lincoln Courier said that early reports claimed that flames could be seen coming out of the building, but none were visible when firefighters from Beason, Atlanta, and Lincoln Rural arrived at the scene.
The Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District said that an operator was transferring corn when the explosion occurred. They suspected that a bearing in the main grain leg overheated, causing the explosion. There were no injuries or structural damage.
Sources:
WAND-TV
Powder Bulk Solids
Feed & Grain
The Lincoln Courier
