Avalon, Wisc. — Firefighters from several local townships had more to worry about than just containing a fire Tuesday, Nov. 27, at a Gavilon Grain location here. There was a natural gas line, a railcar full of anhydrous ammonia, and hundreds of thousands of bushels of corn that could have turned into a huge disaster. As it turned out, the maintenance shed next to the grain storage facility was damaged and the grain elevator itself had minimal damage, according to Mary Palu, spokesperson for Gavilon. In addition, approximately 20 Avalon residents had to evacuate the area, but returned to their homes later that evening. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Sgt. Mark Thompson of the Rock County sheriff’s department said homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure. “They were able to cool down the railcar containing anhydrous ammonia with water, and move it away from the building,” he added. The fire department said the railcar was located within 100 feet of the building. A large, above-ground natural gas pipe was also located west of the building. Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it spread further. Palu said the grain elevator in Avalon was open for business Wednesday, Nov. 28. The actual cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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