Date: July 6, 2018
Location: Genesee, Wisconsin (USA)
Address: S36 W29903 Wern Way, 53189
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Game Farm (Agricultural)
Equipment: Grain Silo
Company: Wern Valley Game Farm
Previous Incidents: None Reported.
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Wern Valley Game Farm was originally a dairy farm. In the 1980s the owners began raising pheasants as a hobby to supplement the farm’s declining bird population. They soon decided to license the property as a game farm. Hunting Season runs from October 1 to April 15 and Ringneck Pheasants, Chukar, Hungarian Partridges and Black Pheasants are available for release.
Description of Grain Dust Fire:
On July 6, 2018, the Journal-Sentinel reported a silo fire at a game farm in Genesee, Wisconsin. The local fire chief speculated that the incident was likely started by the heat of the silo and the old silage within, which may have become so compacted that the silo became hotter than the air temperature, resulting in spontaneous combustion.
Firefighters responded to a call at 5:27 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the fire limited to the silo, but temporarily closed the road between Boettcher Road and Snowdon Drive as an added precaution. They emptied the silo as much as they could, but an estimated 100,000 pounds of silage was left inside.
The fire department left the scene at about 1:30 p.m. and directed the property owner to keep an eye out for any more signs of a fire. There were no injuries and the amount of property damage is unknown.
Sources:
Journal-Sentinel
