Delphi, IN: Andersons Grain Elevator Fire and Bin Collapse

(Satellite)

There were no injuries and the incedents were unrelated. Andersons had a bad day on Sep 19, 2022. In the morning they had a fire and in the afternoon a bin collapsed.

James Hall, Aug 2022

Delphi Fire Department posted six photos with the comment: "Delphi Fire, Camden Fire, Flora Fire, Rockfield Fire, Burrows Fire, Carroll County EMA, and Carroll County EMS responded to a fire at Anderson Grain this morning just after 640am. Fire was discovered in a large filter canister, the associated conveyors, and a connected storage bin. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours working to gain access to the fire and to ensure there was no risk of fire spread to the rest of the facility."

Source: wishTV

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In the group of six bins, it is the northern most that collapsed. I think that the fire was east of the group of two bins.

Satellite

Delphi Fire Department posted five photos with the comment: "Delphi Fire, Camden Fire, Carroll County EMA, and Carroll County EMS are currently on the scene of a major grain bin collapse at the Anderson Grain facility in Delphi. All employees are accounted for and no injuries are reported. No further information is available at this time."

The Farmer's Life shared with the comment: "Bin down at our local facility. Seems nobody was hurt which is great. They also had a fire early this morning. Pure speculation on my part, but the fire was at the cob mill which is pretty far away from this bin and I assume they are not connected. I can't say. I haul there, but I don't work there. Double whammy of a day though. And just before harvest. Bin next door not looking too great either. Then there's all the conveyors and attached structures."

[I wonder what they do with cobs.]

Jeffrey Anderson: No the fire is not connected. My family owns the Anderson Grain Co., the bin that collapsed was a fairly new bin. We are in contact with the constructor to find out exactly what caused this incident.

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It must have been holding wheat because soybeans and corn have yet to be harvested this year.

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[It looks like the bin next to it is compromised. Hopefully, they can quickly repair the conveyor that feeds the three bins in the other row.]

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The facility did not exist on a 1962 topo map. By 1979 they built the concrete silos and the group of six bins. And they had connections to both the N&W/Wabash and L&N/Monon.

1979 Delphi Quad @ 24,000

Today they would have connections to the NS and CSX if CSX had not abandoned their route.

Since 1979, they have added a couple more bins, two ground piles and a long building. The long building is in the lower-left corner next to their railyard.

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NS had three locomotives parked at the facility when the satellite passed overhead. I wonder if they had just finished putting cuts of empty cars into the elevator's yard or if they are waiting to put some cuts together to create a loaded train.

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Andersons, Accessed Sep 21, 2022
"Due to a bin collapse at our Delphi facility on September 19, the facility is currently closed for deliveries. Please contact your Merchant at our Clymers facility at 574-737-2480 if you have any questions. We will continue to post updates here as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience during the beginning of a busy harvest season while we focus on assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of the site."

The bin had 500,000 bushels of wheat. [newagtalk]

Update: On Sep 27, 2022, The Farmer's Life posted the comment:

Update on the bin collapse locally. What we heard today was at this time they don't plan on taking any grain this fall. If they can catch the tail end of harvest they'll be happy. From what I can gather their electrical is compromised, the two main dump pits can't be used, and possibly can't even dry corn anyway. So that's 9,000,000+ bushels currently out of commission. 

Probably won't affect our personal harvest logistics too severely, but will have to see how this backs up traffic at other locations once everyone is full bore in the fields. We store a lot of our crop on the farm, and all the popcorn goes to Weaver from the field. We'll still have 50-60 truckloads that will be delivered during harvest though. Add to that INDOT has some portion of about every highway in the area shut down. Could be fun!