MONROE - Area firefighters returned to their stations by 10 p.m. Monday, after an eight-hour struggle with frigid temperatures turning water to slush and freezing on pipes, to contain a fire in a germ drying and bagging processor at Badger State Ethanol in the 800 block of 17th Street in Monroe.
Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said the fire was out and no firefighters remained at the site. However, Badger State personnel remained on site through the night.
Some firefighting units began picking up their hoses sometime after 8 p.m., even while others still were investigating smoldering embers in the duct work of the processor.
For almost two hours, firefighters climbed around on the processor, being careful of slippery pipes covered with frozen water, and opening and even removing hatch doors to peer into the processing unit, to inspect for a potential flare-ups.
At least one hatch opened at about 8:15 p.m. revealed grain embers still glowing.
Firefighters worked their way down the processor's ducts, as they cleared each level.
Read today's Times newspaper and online editions later Tuesday for further information.
Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said the fire was out and no firefighters remained at the site. However, Badger State personnel remained on site through the night.
Some firefighting units began picking up their hoses sometime after 8 p.m., even while others still were investigating smoldering embers in the duct work of the processor.
For almost two hours, firefighters climbed around on the processor, being careful of slippery pipes covered with frozen water, and opening and even removing hatch doors to peer into the processing unit, to inspect for a potential flare-ups.
At least one hatch opened at about 8:15 p.m. revealed grain embers still glowing.
Firefighters worked their way down the processor's ducts, as they cleared each level.
Read today's Times newspaper and online editions later Tuesday for further information.