Grain Elevator Blast Rocks Destrehan, Near New Orleans

Friday, October 31, 2008
By Matt Scallan, New Orleans Times-Picayune

A fire and explosion at the ADM Growmark grain elevator in Destrehan caused "considerable structural damage" to the facility, according to an initial report from the state Department of Environmental Quality.

There were no reported injuries in connection with the explosion, which occurred at 1:15 a.m. and knocked out power to nearly 1,500 homes.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation by federal safety officials, while state environmental officials are attempting to determine whether it caused environmental damage.

---

Grain elevators are storage facilities for grain. Grain is shipped downriver from the Midwest to South Louisiana and stored at grain elevators until it is loaded onto ships for export overseas.

The elevator is one of three in the parish. One of these is another ADM facility in Ama, on the parish's west bank. The third elevator, which is in Destrehan, is owned by Bunge North American.