Silo Gas Kills Farmer in Lancaster County, PA

Air in the silo was monitored as technical rescue personnel performed the recovery, Upper Leacock Fire Chief Larry Miller said.

Oct. 6, 2025

2 min read

LNP, Lancaster, Pa.

(TNS)

Oct. 5—Editor's note: This story was updated to include the name of the deceased man's name after the Lancaster County Coroner's Office released the name Monday morning, Oct. 6.

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The Lancaster County coroner has identified the man found dead in a silo Sunday afternoon in Upper Leacock Township.

Samuel F. King, 29, was working at his farm in the township when he died, according to his obituary. Lancaster County coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni identified King on Monday morning.

King was found dead in a silo after inhaling "silo gas" at an Upper Leacock Township farm Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews responded to a call for a farm rescue in the 100 block of Geist Road just before 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Upper Leacock Fire Company Chief Larry Miller told WGAL that higher temperatures this year have led to an increase in the number of incidents crews have responded to, and that first-responders had to use self-contained breathing apparatuses during the rescue.

Garden Spot Fire Rescue reported that the concrete silo, which reaches 60 feet in the air, was filled recently with high-moisture corn product.

Penn State Extension notes that "A variety of gases can be formed in conventional silos, but generally, nitrogen dioxide is the most prevalent type of gas." This odorless and colorless gas is "very dangerous" because the gas "displaces the silo's oxygen, and in high concentrations, gives a person little warning that they are about to be overcome."