Fire Rekindles at Union Mills Explosion Site

Posted on Author WKVI
A Monday afternoon explosion destroyed the upper half of this grain silo.
A Monday afternoon explosion destroyed the upper half of this grain silo.

Firefighters were called back to the site of a grain elevator explosion in Union Mills last night after a hot spot apparently rekindled. Smoke was spotted billowing from the silo at the Union Mills Co-Op around 8 last night. It exploded around 1:30 Monday afternoon, killing 67-year-old James Swank, who lived nearby. He was on top of the silo at the time, according to the LaPorte County coroner, who says he fell to his death. Federal, state and local investigators are still trying to determine the ignition source of the blast. That has proved challenging, as the structure is not yet safe for them to enter. Early indications are that the explosion took place near the top of the 175 foot tall structure.

 

Investigation into Grain Elevator Explosion Continues

Posted on Author WKVI

An explosion destroyed the upper half of this grain elevator.
An explosion destroyed the upper half of this grain elevator.
The investigation into a grain elevator explosion at the Union Mills Co-Alliance in LaPorte County remains under investigation.

Major John Boyd from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, whose department is assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the state fire marshal’s office in this investigation, said investigators are waiting for engineers to assess the elevator to see if it’s structurally sound. If it is deemed structurally sound, investigators can get into the elevator to look for evidence in what caused the explosion.

There have been speculations that grain dust could be to blame.

The explosion Monday afternoon killed 67-year-old James Swank who was a resident of Union Mills and worked at the Union Mills Co-Alliance for seven years.