A fire destroyed the southern elevator of United Co-op in Reynolds, N.D., early Monday morning.
Traill County Sheriff Mike Crocker said the fire was reported about 4 a.m.
The wooden structure was only partially full and one steel bin attached to the elevator collapsed. A metal storage bin full of corn had to be extinguished, he said.
Firefighters from Reynolds and the nearby North Dakota towns of Buxton, Hillsboro, Mayville, Portland, Hatton and Thompson all responded to the blaze. Crocker said the fire was brought under control within a couple of hours.
The cause of the fire and the damage amount has been not determined.
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About 15 homes in a two-block area east of the elevator were evacuated about 4:45 a.m. due to burning cinders, officials said.
Residents were allowed to return about an hour later.
"No one was injured or hospitalized - that's the important thing," said Crocker.
Elevator Manager Paul Coppin said the elevator had 40,000 bushels of grain inside. The co-op plans to rebuild.
"We're fortunate enough to have another facility here in Reynolds and one in Buxton that can still receive grain," Coppin said.
"We hope to be fully operational again by corn harvest."
Johnson is a reporter for The Grand Forks Herald, a Forum Communications newspaper.
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