UPDATE 8:42 a.m. 9/9/17:
Primghar, Iowa — The Primghar elevator was destroyed in a fire Friday night, September 8, 2017 in Primghar, and nine area fire departments fought the blaze.
According to Primghar Fire Chief Gary Lansink, about 8:10 p.m., the Primghar Fire Department was called to the report of a fire at Nicholson & Edwards Grain.
The chief says the fire department saw both head-houses were fully engulfed in flame as they approached the scene.
Lansink says no injuries were reported.
The chief says the fire department was assisted by the Sheldon Fire Department, who was instrumental in fighting the fire as they brought their aerial ladder truck. Tankers with water were called in from the fire departments in Hartley, Paullina, Archer, Sanborn, Granville, Sutherland, and Calumet. The Primghar Ambulance was also called to provide aid to firefighters. Among the services they provided was bringing drinking water for firefighters.
Lansink says water was used from the hydrants, but they took water from the Primghar water tower, the Highland water tower, the lake at Mill Creek Park, and hauled water from Archer and Gaza too. He says they got water from basically anywhere they could get water.
He says the cause of the fire is unknown. He speculated that perhaps something got hot while crews were moving corn and soybeans earlier in the day, but said the official cause is undetermined at this time.
Chief Lansink reports that there was over a million dollars damage.
He says they used over 350,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene until 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
Lansink says that with the building being a steel-sided wooden structure that tall, “it was just impossible to put water on where it needed to go.”
Lansink also wanted to thank all the area departments “for working together on such a tragedy.”
———————————————
Original story, posted 9:20 p.m., Friday, September 8th:
Primghar, Iowa — Fire departments from throughout O’Brien County have been called to Primghar Friday evening to assist in fighting a major blaze.
The Primghar Fire Department was paged for a fire at the grain elevator in Primghar. A short time later, Primghar firefighters requested Sheldon to respond with their ladder truck, as well as a pumper. Within several minutes the call went out for the Hartley and Paullina Fire Departments to respond with pumper and tanker trucks, as well.
Around 9:15 pm, the Archer Fire Department was paged to bring their tanker truck to Primghar, presumably to help haul water to battle the conflagration. Just over five minutes later, the Sanborn Fire Department was paged to bring their tanker truck, as well.
In addition, we’re told that law enforcement officers from throughout O’Brien County were called to the scene to keep spectators away. Officials request that people avoid the area of the elevator, which is located on the west edge of Primghar.
We’ll have more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.
