Trucks Destroyed in Fire at FS in Effingham

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Two trucks were destroyed by fire at FS in Effingham Thursday evening.

Fire crews were dispatched to FS at 4:53 pm after a grain truck caught fire in the back parking lot on the east side of the facility. The driver of the truck had just parked the vehicle for the night and plugged it in when the fire started.

Fire crews initially attacked the rear of the vehicle, after learning that a box trailer directly to the north of the truck was loaded with tires. Eventually, crews connected to a water source near ADM and moved their attack to the front of the truck.

The initial tractor/trailer that caught fire was a total loss, estimated at $90,000. The straight-truck lined up next to it also caught fire and was destroyed. That truck was valued at $95,000.

Chief Joe Holomy said that it's believed the fire started underneath the truck's battery, and may have been caused by a short in the block heater. Holomy added that the trailer loaded with tires was a major concern, and crews worked quickly to keep the fire from spreading to it, as well as several propane tanks that were stored next to the trailer.

There were no injuries. Fire crews cleared the scene at 6:06 pm.