Corn dryer caused Thursday morning fire at Alto Pekin

Posted on June 24, 2021
Fire crews responded to the scene around 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

PEKIN – Machines designed to dry cornmeal used for the production of ethanol was the source of a fire at Alto Pekin LLC that prompted Pekin Fire to respond around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Crews were on scene for about two hours, but it only took about 45 minutes to get the blaze under control.

There were no injuries reported, and because the fire didn’t involve actual ethanol or other chemicals, water was used to put it out.

Due to the size and constant use of the dryers, fires like this happen routinely. Typically, crews on site are able to put those out with steam and other machinery. Interim Pekin Fire Chief Trent Reeise says they respond to about 6-10 fires involving large industrial dryers every year.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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