(KIWA and KTIV) — An explosion damaged part of the Kent Feeds facility in Sheldon early Monday morning, September 21, as employees were starting a grain dryer for daily operations.
The Sheldon Fire Company was dispatched at 5:06 a.m. to the feed mill at 1500 RMT Avenue for a report of an explosion near door nine.
According to Fire Chief Brad Hindt, firefighters met with employees and observed visible damage to the east side of a tower in the northern portion of the facility. Employees and firefighters shut down utilities to the affected area.
O’Brien County Emergency Management responded with a drone to help firefighters check for hot spots and assess the damage.
“Once on scene the drone was deployed to check hotspots and for the extent of damage, nothing of concern was found in the facility,” Hindt said in a news release.
Hindt said the incident appeared to be accidental. Employees reported they were starting the grain dryer when the explosion occurred.
The Sheldon Police Department, O’Brien County Emergency Management, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, and Kent Feeds employees assisted at the scene.
The Sheldon Fire Company returned to service at 6:04 a.m.
