Grain elevator awaiting repair

BARTLEY, Nebraska -- The south leg of the Ag Valley Co-Op grain elevator damaged in explosions April 13 will have to come down because of structural instability.

Ron Hunter, manager of the Bartley, Nebraska, co-op, said Tuesday that the north leg of the south grain bin formation, also damaged when three to five explosions ripped through the grain bin facility a week ago, may eventually have to be replaced as well.

Hunter said that a new leg has been purchased to replace the south leg, and work could begin Thursday to take down the damaged leg. But unsettled weather and rain in the forecast could delay the project, he said, although he added that the area needs rain so badly, "We could leave it standing as long as it wants to rain."

"If the sun's shining and there's no wind, we'll start working Thursday," Hunter said.

The elevator is temporarily out of commission, he said, until the leg is replaced.

A quick series of three to five explosions sent two Ag Valley employees climbing down from a platform at the top of the south leg, where they were preparing to do some welding to make repairs. Bartley fire chief Jim Morris said later Tuesday that although the two men had not begun to weld yet, a spark ignited grain dust, and pressure throughout the system caused seams on the south leg to break and bulge, and the shield on another leg system, on a north grain bin formation, to blow off.

No one was injured.

A state fire marshal arrived on the scene yet Tuesday, took pictures, but was unable to climb the leg structure because of concerns about its structural integrity.

Morris said the fire marshal's investigation will continue once the leg is on the ground.

"It was a spark and grain dust, for sure. That's like putting an open flame to gasoline," Morris said. "We know what happened. We just don't know how it happened yet."