North Dakota Firefighters' Quick Action Prevents Major Damage
People lined the gravel roads around the elevator watching as smoke and water poured from the top of the main structure. Fire broke out at the building, used for receiving and storing grain, at about 3 p.m. Friday.
Damage to the building was minimal, with most of the damage occurring on the roof of the highest part of the elevator, general manager Mike Morgan said. Some siding and roofing broke away from the building as firefighters strove to contain flames. The building was built in 1972.
"The elevator is fine," Morgan said. "Our fire department did a hell of a job."
He was in the building when the fire alarms rang.
"Our fire alarm went off, told us where it was hot, and we went to it," Morgan said.
No employee of the elevator was hurt in the fire.
"Everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do," Morgan said.
The fire did not spread far in the building, which can hold 600,000 bushels of grain, and Morgan estimated that about 15 feet at the top of the grain was damaged. He said he will not know what the total monetary damage is until after the elevator is inspected by insurance agents.
"We really lucked out," he said. "There was a 40-mile-an-hour wind, and it was unbelievable. Somebody was really looking out for us."
Volunteer firefighters from the Thompson, Manvel and Reynolds, N.D., departments geared up with oxygen tanks and climbed ladders at the side of the elevator to fight the fire. Morgan highly praised the volunteers for their work to contain the fire so quickly. It was extinguished about 4:30 p.m., but firefighters remained on the scene to watch for hot spots.
"I can't say enough about them. They are all incredible," he said.