Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy

I noticed in a Yorkton paper Monday night that the Pioneer grain elevator in Foam Lake was destroyed by fire. Foam Lake is an hour’s drive north west of Yorkton.
Here’s what the elevator used to look like when I photographed it April 7 of this year.

The heat from the fire was reported to be unbearable for a bigger distance than you might imagine. I experienced an elevator fire firsthand nine years ago in Wood Mountain when the last remaining Pioneer branded elevator burned there after a double lightning strike hit it the day the building closed business for good. The elements made the closure extra official. Brooks, Alberta lost an elevator that same day in July 1997.

UPDATE: The Foam Lake fires happened during the Whitewood kidnapping, and there were no extra police to escort the helicopter water bomber people. They don’t have a cause of the fires yet.  - August 9, 2006

UPDATE: From the Western Producer:

The Aug. 1 fire broke out in a local elevator’s annex and a farmer-owned grain storage facility housed in the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator.

On June 28, fire destroyed the medical clinic, a restaurant, Sears catalogue outlet, movie rental shop and convenience store, along with a water purification business.

The fire destroyed the pool elevator beside the Pioneer as well. CBC has more.