Damage Extensive in Fire at South Dakota Grain Elevator

Authorities say no one was injured in a fire at a grain elevator in northeast South Dakota but damage appears to be extensive.

Grant County Sheriff Mike McKernan says the blaze followed an explosion or explosions at the West-Con elevator near Twin Brooks about 4:30 p.m. on April 13. Authorities suspect grain dust was to blame.

Fire departments from Milbank, Revillo, Corona and Big Stone City battled the fire in high winds. McKernan says firefighters remained on the scene overnight as the fire continued to smolder.

The facility was built in 2004 and is known as the Milbank Terminal. It can hold more than 1.2 million bushels of grain and can load railcars at 85,000 bushels per hour. There also is a 45,000 ton fertilizer plant on site as well as fertilizer tanks.