SASKATOON – After serving Saskatchewan farmers for 40 years, the old Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator in Weyburn burned to the ground last week.
Fire investigators from Winnipeg were to arrive at the scene this week.
Weyburn’s deputy fire chief Murray Sabados said the investigation is standard and doesn’t point toward foul play. He added it could be several months before the cause is determined.
The 4,560 tonne capacity wooden elevator known as Sask Pool B was located in the centre of town. It had been replaced by a new concrete facility in 1989 and was used for storage and as a transfer elevator, for grain being shipped by truck.
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There were about 1,100 tonnes of grain, mainly mustard seed, in the elevator when the fire broke out early in the morning of Sept. 8. Firefighters concentrated their efforts on preventing the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings, including a co-op lumber yard and a Petro-Canada bulk fuel station.
Terry Drabiuk, the pool’s market development manager for the area, said the company will know later this week whether any of the grain can be salvaged. The elevator, which was not served by rail, will not be replaced.
