Vindicator – November 21, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – November 22, 2013
District 11 fire and rescue was called to a silo fire Monday morning at the Jim Phillips feed yards on Highway K-16 east of Valley Falls.
Fire Chief John Gordon found a column of smoke rising from the 75-foot high silo. The silo contained about 55 feet of last year’s silage crop.
Gordon called the Oskaloosa Fire Department and asked for their help since they are equipped with a 75-foot ladder truck.
Oskaloosa firefighter Jared Bammes and District 11′s Greg Nellis were lifted to the top of the elevator by the ladder truck, opened a door to the metal roof, and began applying water to the interior.
Gordon said using both water and foam seemed to snuff out the blaze.
The call came in around 8:30 a.m. and the fire was out by 11:30.
Gordon said this was his first experience with a silo fire. District 11 used to be equipped with a ladder truck, but the ladder is no longer functional and attempts to purchase another similar used truck have not been successful.
“I hope we can get another one before too long,” he said.
Gordon had no idea how the fire would have started in the silo. “Maybe it was a lightning strike, but I don’t know,” he said.
The foam is a good fire retardant and helped a lot in extinguishing the fire.
“It should at $125 a bucket,” Gordon said.
A fireman from Osawkie caught a ride up with Bammes and the Nortonville Fire Department was also on the scene.
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