Explosion blows top off grain elevator in Kasson - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

KASSON, Minn. (KTTC) -- If you were in Kasson Thursday afternoon, you may have heard a thunderous boom, it was a grain dust explosion at the Greenway Co-Op. Authorities responded to the Co-Op shortly after 2 p.m. for a report of a gunshot.

Greenway's General Manager, Tim Clemens, said the loud bang wasn't a gun shot, but instead a dust explosion at the top of a grain leg. Kasson and Dodge Center Fire Departments, along with the Kasson Police Department, were on scene for more than an hour.

"They were moving grain, there was a spark that caused the dust to explode, blew the top part of the elevator off. The fire put itself out right away, so there was no threat. How do you think it started? Mechanical problem up above on the elevator, something got hot, overheated, caused it," said Chris Seljan, the Kasson Fire Department's Deputy Chief.

Greenway's spokesperson told us the business will be shut down for the next 24 hours, ensuring another dust explosion doesn't happen. The exact cause is under investigation. After the grain leg undergoes an inspection Friday, Greenway will re-open for business.

We're told damage estimates are anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000.