SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Thackery, Ohio — An explosion ripped a hole in a grain bin in Thackery last summer, but officials at Champaign Landmark Inc. said the facility is repaired and will be ready for business when the harvest season begins.

In June last year, an explosion leveled a maintenance building on a grain silo complex owned by Champaign Landmark, Inc., 8130 Ohio 55. The explosion forced the roof of at least one grain silo to collapse, and shifted others from their base. No one was injured.

Steve Bricher, branch manager at Champaign Landmark, said while the damage was extensive, repairs have been made to the facility and it will be ready to accept grain when the harvest season starts later this year. The facility was operational by early December, he said.

"It's back to full function now," he said.

While the blast caused about $1.3 million in damage, Bricher said the explosion did not seem to have much effect on business. Insurance covered most of the repairs, he said.

Most of the grain was able to be moved, and from a financial standpoint, the explosion had little effect on the business.

"We pretty much got through without any business loss from that standpoint," he said.

The explosion may have started when employees turned on the lights at the facility to begin daily operations. Bricher said the explosion was likely the result of grain dust that ignited in the facility, but what caused the grain dust to ignite in the first place has never been determined.

Bricher also thanked customers for their cooperation while the repairs were being made.

"Our customers really did a nice job working with us last fall," he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.