'It lit on contact': Canada's oldest grain elevator burns down

A grain elevator that was considered the oldest still-standing grain elevator in Canada, burned to the ground in Elva, Man. earlier this week.

A grain elevator that was considered the oldest still-standing grain elevator in Canada, burned to the ground in Elva, Man. earlier this week.

The fire happened on Tuesday at the Lake of the Woods Milling Company elevator, which dated back to 1897. Crews from The Den Authentic Barnwood, which purchased the elevator, had been working to reclaim the wood from the structure.

Owner Troy Angus said the fire started during the cleanup phase. Crews were conducting a controlled burn of debris in a nearby slough. The workers were staying behind to ensure the fire from the controlled burn would be extinguished once it was finished.

“The wind was coming from the south all day, and then in the last hour of the day, the wind started switching directions on us,” Angus said.

As the burn was happening, an ember floated up in the air and went inside a hole in the elevator the size of a football, Angus said.

“It lit on contact,” he said. “We saw everything happen, reacted right away, and knew the elevator would have to come down immediately.