[kellyhound]

It was a close call for firefighters in Martinton, Illinois, on Wednesday after a grain bin elevator suddenly collapsed right by them.

Firefighters were responding to a call nearby when they were notified of an issue with a grain bin on the property.

Jeffrey Meyer with the Martinton Fire Department said concrete was seen popping off the side of the silo. When personnel went to investigate it, they decided it could end up being a problem.

That’s when Lt. Bruce Lane with the Papineau Fire Department called in reinforcements, and they started working on a plan.

“We coordinated with a grain elevator. These are guys that they live and breathe this every day,” Lane said. “For us in the fire service, this is a high-risk, low-frequency event. Does not occur very often.”

They evacuated the area and had planned to move the beans to another silo.

“By moving the beans, we believe in the vibrations and stuff, started the silo cracking a little bit more. So, then we started moving personnel back. Within a matter of minutes, it collapsed,” Meyer said.

A cloud of dust filled the air, and nearly a metric ton of beans poured out of the silo.

“First sense is fight or flight, obviously. For yourself. Run, get out of there. We all made it out,” Lane said. “As soon as we got out of the zone, turned around and said, OK, accountability, where is everybody?”

“Then the whole thing just starts. Holy smokes. That was close. You know, kind of deal,” Meyer said. “And then you start, just, getting the resources here to make sure there’s not another collapse.”

And yet, there were no injuries on scene. It hasn’t been determined yet what caused the structure to collapse.

[volleyballbat]

"Everyone has a plan until a grain silo collapses right beside them."
- Iron Mike

[houseoftechno]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

It hasn’t been determined yet what caused the structure to collapse.

The cause was failure of the reinforcing steel, due to corrosion (the conversion of the steel to rust) over time, caused by years of water intrusion into the concrete surface. Corrosion damage is accelerated in climates with winter temps < freezing, where frozen ice in the concrete pores expand and open up bigger cracks, so the water can oxidize the reinforcing steel.

[kbt3168]

It’s all fun and games until someone loses their grain elevator.

[William May]

Well, if they are smart, they took an insurance loss on the soybeans. There is no one else to sell them to at the moment. May as well grab the cash and not worry about it. And they don't need the silo, either, unless and until they rebuild the U.S. Soybean market.
(Which is not likely during any Trump administration)

[Mr.NoCredit]

At least they don’t need to worry about it anymore.

[Major_Tom]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

“We coordinated with a grain elevator. These are guys that they live and breathe this every day,” Lane said.

“By moving the beans, we believe in the vibrations and stuff, started the silo cracking a little bit more."

Were the first responders high on something?

[Guns N' Coffee]

They spilled the beans.

[William May]

Ummmm..................my beans come out in an odorous vapor cloud.


No collapses, but people STILL run away!

And the cat will hiss at me

[Sa Bal]

i’m thinking about those beans.