Jordan Wilcox
Assistant Publisher
Life is relatively quiet and peaceful in the small village of Decatur, and it rarely makes any headlines. However, on Saturday, January 10th, it was quite the opposite.
The Cargill grain bins are among the village’s most recognizable landmarks. Located at the corner of East Beers and South Phelps streets, they are visible from nearly anywhere in downtown Decatur.
At about 11 a.m. Saturday, Cargill workers noticed one of the silos was registering an exceptionally high temperature, a concerning situation given that extreme heat combined with fine-grain particles inside a silo creates a significant risk of explosion.
Because of that risk, and the facility’s close proximity to downtown, the Village of Decatur Police Department issued a mandatory evacuation for all businesses and residences between West Bronson, South Williams, South George, and Delaware streets.
Van Buren County Emergency Management, Village of Decatur Emergency Management, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, the Pokagon Tribal Police, and other law enforcement agencies assisted village police in coordinating and enforcing the evacuation order.
Located outside the designated danger zone on North Phelps Street, VFW Post 6248 opened its doors to residents displaced by the evacuation. Volunteers provided coffee, water, snacks, and even a homemade pasta dinner for those seeking shelter.
As a precaution, Amtrak also halted all train service through the area, including the Wolverine Train 352’s route from Detroit to Chicago, which passes directly by the Cargill property.
According to VFW Post 6248 Commander Kevin Conklin, who spoke with South Bend television station WSBT, there was widespread uncertainty at the time regarding the severity of the situation and how long it might last. “At one point, we were told it could be up to 30 hours,” Conklin said.
Luckily, though, the incident did not last for 30 hours. By 2:35 p.m., the affected silo’s temperature had dropped to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, down from a previous reading of 155 degrees. At 2:53 p.m., the silo was placed back into operation, and at 5:28 p.m., law enforcement lifted the evacuation order.
A Cargill spokesperson told local media the situation was a “steam-related incident,” adding that the company immediately activated safety protocols to ensure the safety of workers and the surrounding community.
No visible flames or smoke were reported downtown, and no injuries were reported.
