MILO GRAIN FIRE BELIEVED TO BE THE RESULT OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Mardela Springs, MD - On November 20, 2024, at approximately 3:55 pm, a fire happened in a 60-foot metal framed grain silo located in the 8300 block of Athol Road in Mardela Springs, Maryland. The owner of the property was the one who discovered the fire and contacted the local fire department for assistance.

The silo contained between 12,000 and 18,000 bushels of Milo grain at the time of the fire. The preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was caused by accidental, spontaneous combustion of the Milo grain during the drying process.

The Mardela Springs Volunteer Fire Department responded to the emergency. It took about 30 minutes and 40 firefighters to control the situation and extinguish the fire.

The estimated loss from the fire is substantial, with about $5,000 for the structure and approximately $10,000 worth of contents, mostly grain, believed to have been destroyed. Thankfully, no injuries or casualties were reported from the scene of the incident.