WPSD's Charity Blanton & Dylan Payne reported on a fire broke out Thursday morning at the Bunge grain facility in Cairo, Illinois. Eight fire departments from Illinois and Kentucky responded, successfully containing the blaze. The fire was limited to the exterior of the facility, with soybean-filled silos remaining unaffected.
Local resident Amy Harrell initially worried about potential silo explosions due to hexane gas. However, Wickliffe City Fire Chief Michael Starnes noted that while hexane is a concern, atomized grain powder also poses an explosion risk.
Bunge officials confirmed no injuries occurred. The cause of the fire and extent of damage are still under investigation as of Thursday evening. This incident highlights the importance of inter-community cooperation in emergency response and ongoing safety challenges in grain storage facilities. emergency response and the ongoing safety challenges faced by grain storage facilities.
