GRAIN BIN FIRE

Friday, December 1, 2006

Company #27, along with Bethel #54 and Strausstown #50, were dispatched to the Arrowhead Poultry Farm along New Schaefferstown Road in Tulpehocken Township for a grain dryer bin fire.  Womelsdorf Truck #47 was requested to the scene to assist.

The fire was in a 3000 bushel capacity grain dryer bin, which was loaded with 2500 bushels of sunflower seeds. Sunflower seed is a very difficult grain to handle in any type of dryer. It becomes packed so tightly and will not "agitate" correctly, thus increasing the chance of becoming too hot and burning. This was one of our active member's farm, and he had checked the bin approximately 45 minutes earlier and all was OK. He left to run an errand and his wife called him to tell him it was burning and she had called the FD.

Initial responders on scene turned off the blowers and propane supply. After initial evaluation, it was determined that this would have to be off-loaded. After the necessary equipment was in place, the off-loading process began. FF's had to pull the seeds down into the unloading augers, thus the need for confined space SCBA and tag lines. Truck #47 served as a high anchor/tie-off point for FF safety.  Unloading process took about 5 - 5.5 hours. Very little water used to cool some smoldering product.

Interesting side note...  During previous confined space rescue training conducted by the company, this particular bin was used for some of the training.