SOUTH TOLEDO -- Firefighters are still actively fighting the fire in a south Toledo grain elevator, more than three days after it exploded. Two explosions rocked the facililty on Friday, less than an hour after employees went home for the Independence Day holiday weekend. Firefighters have been on the scene ever since, methodically uncovering pockets of fire in the silos, and putting the out.
Toledo Fire Chief Mike Bell spoke live with News 11's Jerry Anderson on "Your Morning" on Tuesday. He said the fire was more extensive than firefighters thought. They have now found flames in the grain in 5 of the silos in the elevator. Right now, they're pouring water on the outside of the silos to cool them down. Bell says crews will need to pull some of the burning grain out of the silos, and completely extinguish the flames.
Bell also told Anderson there have been investigators on the scene from the very beginning, and they are thinking that the fire wasn't intentionally set. They expect to have an official determination of the cause of the fire in the next couple of days.
Count on News 11 to stay on top of the story as it develops.
At the height of the fire, dozens of firefighters from Toledo battled the blaze, along with foam units from the 180th Fighter Wing at Toledo Express Airport and the BP Refinery in east Toledo. The Coast Guard also sent personnel to watch the river by the fire scene.
Video from the scene showed obvious damage, twisted metal, and flames deep in the heart of the building. At least two silos had their tops blown off, and a smaller building, part of the Kuhlman complex next to the silo, also caved in.
The silo contained corn and wheat, and the fire was in the grain and also the conveyor belt system inside the elevator complex. Crews used firefighting foam because it is lighter than water, and helped smother the dust.
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