January 16, 2020
Ross elevator shut down by fire
By Jerry W. Kram
United Quality Cooperative’s grain terminal in Ross will be shut down for two or three months because of a grain drier fire that started on Thursday, according to UQ CEO Erik Jacobson.
The elevator was drying soybeans when the fire was first noticed between 8 and 8:10 a.m. Fire crews from Stanley and Tioga responded to the blaze and the New Town Fire Department sent two water tankers to support the suppression effort.
“It was quite a bit scary,” Jacobson said. “It could have been much, much worse. It could have taken the entire facility. The drier and the legs that fed grain to and from it are a total loss. We had an internal shipping leg also damaged to the point where it is also a total loss.”
Jacobson praised the efforts of area first responders to the crisis.
“I can’t say enough about them,” he said. “Stanley Fire Department led the charge. They had help from Tioga and New Town fire departments. Stanley Ambulance Services were on site. County law enforcement controlled traffic on the roads. The Stanley Fire Department saved our facility.”
Also lost were more than 9,000 bushels of soybeans. Jacobson said the drier was a bit under its 10,000 bushel capacity when it caught fire.
The elevator was drying soybeans when the fire was first noticed between 8 and 8:10 a.m. Fire crews from Stanley and Tioga responded to the blaze and the New Town Fire Department sent two water tankers to support the suppression effort.
“It was quite a bit scary,” Jacobson said. “It could have been much, much worse. It could have taken the entire facility. The drier and the legs that fed grain to and from it are a total loss. We had an internal shipping leg also damaged to the point where it is also a total loss.”
Jacobson praised the efforts of area first responders to the crisis.
“I can’t say enough about them,” he said. “Stanley Fire Department led the charge. They had help from Tioga and New Town fire departments. Stanley Ambulance Services were on site. County law enforcement controlled traffic on the roads. The Stanley Fire Department saved our facility.”
Also lost were more than 9,000 bushels of soybeans. Jacobson said the drier was a bit under its 10,000 bushel capacity when it caught fire.
