Date: July 17, 2023
Location: Zion, Wisconsin (USA)
Address: 4700 Block of 9th Street
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Unknown
Industry: Unknown
Equipment: Storage Silo
Company: Unknown
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
The company was not identified in any press coverage of the incident.
Incident Description:
On July 17, 2023, Kenosha News reported a silo fire at a business in Zion, Wisconsin.
The City of Zion Fire & Rescue Department stated that the first alert of the fire was received at 6:10 p.m. from employees at the location. Upon arriving at the scene, emergency teams discovered an interior silo, rising three stories above the ground, with burning dust and material inside.
Typically, the industrial facility would introduce nitrogen gas into the silo to extinguish any flames, but on this occasion, it failed due to possible damage or malfunction in the machinery. This failure allowed air to enter the silo, sustaining the fire, which is believed to have started at the silo’s base near the valve, a location that allowed air to enter.
To combat the flames, emergency crews reached the sealed hatch situated six stories above the ground and introduced water via a hose from the top of the silo, thereby cooling and smothering the ignited substances.
The incident raised concerns regarding the release of nitrogen and its potential impact on those responding to the emergency, along with the risk of a dust explosion when air entered the sealed silo. Despite these concerns, there were no indications of a threat to public health or the surrounding environment, as per the official release.
No civilians were harmed during the incident. One firefighter was sent for a medical check-up but has since been treated and returned to full duty.
The site was cleared, and the last units departed at 9:21 p.m.
Sources:
Kenosha News
