Streets reopen around elevator

9/16/2010

Miami Street and surrounding streets reopened Wednesday, two days after a fire in an East Toledo silo led to the loss of $3.5 million worth of wheat and the evacuation of scores of residents and several businesses.

It remained unclear Wednesday night whether the silo could be repaired.

The remainder of the 100,000 bushels of wheat in the silo continued to be removed Wednesday through a third hole knocked into the structure at 1308 Miami St., which is owned by Archer Daniels Midland.

Smoldering wheat was discovered before 7 a.m. Monday by ADM employees and ultimately led to the loss of the contents of the silo, said Roman Blahoski, spokesman for ADM in Decatur, Ill.

Residents of a nearby 27-unit mobile home park were not allowed back into their homes until Tuesday night. All neighboring businesses now have access to their sites, Toledo Fire Battalion Chief Mark Klein said.

The elevator will reopen for business at 7 a.m. Friday, Mr. Blahoski said.

The spilled wheat from the structure has been collected at the site. The wheat cannot be consumed because of the foam used by fire fighters to control the blaze, and will be disposed of in a local landfill, Mr. Blahoski added.