Story/Photos by FRANK GUZIK

Early in the morning on September 20th, the Manhattan Fire Department received a call for a silo fire on North Street. The grain tower is located downtown Manhattan, IL. Firefighters responding to the call from home, found that the old grain tower in town had heavy fire coming from the roof. The tower was 30 x 30 and about 70 foot tall, with heavy timber construction, and sheet metal clad siding.

The first alarm was sounded at approximately 02:44. Once dispatched, the dispatch center was given an order to call for the full still, and then the box, with a special of 2 trucks. Once all the box companies were in route, the order was given to dispatch a second alarm. Fire companies coming from as far away as 20 miles could see the fire rising into the sky.

First companies found the heat was impinging on several homes and a business near by, and started protecting exposures. When the first in mutal aid engine company was on the scene they were ordered to protect homes, which were down wind of the fire building. When the first truck came on the scene it was set up on the southeast corner and was supplied by the first in engine. Once other truck companies came onto the scene they were put to work, with elevated hose streams to control the fire.

It took approximately 4 hours to bring this fire under control from the time the call went out. A piece of heavy equipment was brought in to excavate the collapsed structure so that better overhaul could be preformed.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation.