Kent Mill FIRE and explosion damage: Kent, Ohio

[@livenhfree]

Another piece of history gone. Mills once provided good paying jobs for Americans. My grandfather worked in an iron mill his entire life. I have much respect for those buildings and what they meant.

[@terrillschneider3778]

I’m 70 years old and live in Michigan but I grew up in Munroe Falls and went to Stow High School I played softball on the Kent City Park fields right by that old mill and spent several weekend evenings in the bars in downtown Kent The city and it’s scenery were frozen in time in my memory even though I left Cuyahoga Falls for Michigan in 1985 I sincerely hope and pray everyone is well and safe and that all have a wonderful Christmas God bless and keep you wonderful people

[@blondbowler8776]

I'm 73 and my father grew up in Stow, mother Cuyahoga Falls. Dad got his MS at Kent State. Had an uncle was mayor of Stow for many terms. Got a passel of cousins our age grew up in Stow, though I've lost touch with them over the years, being born and raised in California. Heck, you may be one of them! What was the name of that big blues bar on Canal St (?) in Kent. Made my harmonica stage debut in that place, 1974. Right on the tip of my tongue.

[@marthabturner456]

Is it just coincidence that meat plants, mills, food warehouses, etc. are burning down and stores and factories are being shutdown, and our entire distribution chain has been destroyed? It sure seems there has been an unusual amount of death and destruction this past three years. Do you ever wonder why? Wake-up people!

[@markperron851]

Thanks for posting this and doing such a great job filming it. I went to school at Kent and worked at the bars for close to a decade- 2 at the Townehouse and the Deck, 5 1/2 at Ray's and Mother's Junction, and almost 2 at Walter's Cafe which was about 250 feet from that mill. Lots of memories and buckets of good times on that section of Water Street. Thanks again

[@pdgingras]

AG mills can be some of the most dangerous structures in existence. If a mill is in operation and there is inadequate ventilation to remove the grain dust, the dust remains airborne and thus presents an explosion and fire hazard. One way a fire or explosion can occur is through poor maintenance. Many of these mills are decades old. A faulty conveyor bearing could be the source of ignition. Another source of ignition is the grain itself. If the grain becomes damp, bacteria will start to grow within the grain bin (ie., silo). The bacteria will raise the temperature to the ignition point. And thus, you have a fire. Putting water on a grain fire is not the most efficient way to extinguish such a fire. In fact, it may aggravate it. That's the reason grain is passed through a grain drier to reduce the moisture content. Also, such grain fires may burn for days.

[@lesbest2]

They stopped the mill operations in 2019, probably no an overheated bearing,

[@darrenw2803]

yeah i was wondering what started the fire

[@pdgingras]

I realize that the grain mill was shutdown. My daughter lives in the area. But I was attempting to respond to conspiracy theorists, who are looking at this incident from the point of view of a conspiracy. I have worked at grain plants, and I know the problems that are associated with them. Some of the other ignition sources could come from bad electrical wiring, or birds building nests in the vacinity of an open circuit, etc. But my point is, not everything is a conspiracy.

[@thomasharff7559]

Yes look up dust explosion on you tube. It's worse than natural gas explosion..

[@rawbsworld6604]

@@pdgingras it ain’t the 1950’s , if it’s not conspiracy it’s tell every convincible lie era! 👍

[@mikewinkelman7015]

We had huge concrete grain elevator here in Iowa explode from a spark and grain dust . Worse than dynamite going off.

[@chrisk5437]

I was a flight student at Kent. That mill is legendary. You can see that thing for miles and was a landmark for our traffic pattern at 1G3

[@margieirwin9581]

Great video bro. So sad a big part of the history of Kent was destroyed; thankful no one was hurt. The thousands of times we've walked or driven past that place over the years. All the fire departments that responded did a great job...including the poor fire fighter that was on the roof when the explosion happened. They kept it from spreading to the other buildings because had it gotten over to the white building it could have been a whole lot worse. For those watching, this mill has been closed for 10 years - flour and grain. It was purchased and the owner was going to start a repurposing project in 2023 of offices and apartments according to recent reports.

[@timothypetit5799]

It is the only fully functional mill left in the city of Kent. Established in 1879 by the Williams Brothers, the Star of the West specializes in producing flour and tops fifteen million dollars in sales each year

[@claudiastarr776]

My sister and Brother in law lived and worked in Kent for over 50 years . They owned the Campus Supply across from KSU . I got to visit a couple of times and I loved the small town feel. It reminded me of my years growing up in Hudson just a few miles away. I fear neither one of these towns are what they used to be .

[@johnwashburn7423]

Great job both to you and the fire department which was quick to amass the necessary resources.

[@brianburtt245]

I seen a article n i think it said 36 FD's responded for mutual aid.

[@davidoconnor393]

You are entirely wrong and completely opposite... They've known about that abandoned potential fire structure for decades and they've done nothing but sit on their asses at the fire station and now that they have to work it's after the fact that should have been remedy years ago... Wasting our tax dollars and our time with a fire department that's working after the fact

[@asn413]

God bless all envolved.

[@motorizedbikefun6920]

I was painting there yesterday. Wandered off the job site just to see what the heck was going on

[@flyoverkid55]

According to local news, the building has been abandoned for 10 years. This was a disaster waiting to happen. Fortunately, it seems no one was injured.

[@davidoconnor393]

This is when the building owners are too cheap to pay for a demolition licenses and permits so they pull an insurance a fire job

[@timothypetit5799]

It is the only fully functional mill left in the city of Kent. Established in 1879 by the Williams Brothers, the Star of the West specializes in producing flour and tops fifteen million dollars in sales each year

[@timothypetit5799]

One place on the internet says it was still operational and another place on the internet says it has not been operational since 1999 so what is it operational or not operational if it's not operational then there's no great loss if it is operational then there is a loss

[@timothypetit5799]

@@davidoconnor393 exactly if it's an abandoned Mill that tells you somebody set it. it could be related to the owners for insurance purposes I hope they find out who did it and for the owners sake he better hope he didn't have caused it that's a long time in prison right there for insurance fraud and arson

[@flyoverkid55]

@@timothypetit5799 I didn't record the source, I found it in a search about the fire. A local media source quoted a resident stating the mill was idle for 10 years.

[@Urbicide]

What a loss. These old mills are disappearing on what seems to be a regular basis. I lived near Cincinnati for some years, & remember when the Reading Feed Mill in Reading, OH, burned to the ground. It had been a tall wooden structure that had been a local landmark for many years, built between railroad tracks & Reading Road. The owners replaced the historic structure with a one story, pre-fabricated, generic steel building, from which they sell flowers & mulch.

[@AnyMotoUSA]

Yeah but its nothing new. Grain mills are dangerous places, and explosions and fires happen/have happened frequently.

[@APTKSU]

Absolutely devastating. Heartbreaking.

[@debrabyrne7671]

Yes it is especially at Christmas time all those workers now with out a job just devastating

[@KARMA-vu8ii]

@@debrabyrne7671 Well, since the building has been abandoned for 10 years, I'm sure the workers have found other jobs.

[@Urbicide]

These old mills should be preserved as historical structures, which would involve fitting fire suppression systems, like sprinklers, to them. This, unfortunately, is very expensive to do, especially in an existing building.

[@mudchair16]

They should be up and running. This country is a carcass.

[@dajuiceman84]

The were going to. The Tulips LLC bought it back in 2019 and planned on turning into businesses and apartments.

[@christinanihart7598]

I grew up in Kent, moved back and my kids went to school there and I really want to move back again.

[@paintnamer6403]

Well at least it did not explode and devastate a whole block like some grain mills have.

[@OldeCountryHomesteading]

Back when my grandpa worked Joy cone company, trucking, and yes the ice cream cone factory. We used to pick up flour in a dry tanker there, twice a week!

[@ChaseTwisters]

Looks like a beautiful area.

[@smigletat9634]

Was this mill still currently in operation up to this point?

[@tomatoes3]

Great video from differing locations , well done for not having any " oh my God " every minute as in some videos we see 👍

[@woodencoasterfan]

What kind of product was produced or refined there?

[@TheKitsuneDen]

My Dad used to work for IRI (Industrial Risk Insurers) I learned lots from what he did- the creaking you were hearing? That was the metal of the silo (or the other I-Bars) in the building because of the heat starting to collapse.

[@Stargazzer811]

They did a pretty solid job of protecting the exposures from catching, but given this was a flour mill and because of its age, it had alot of combustible material inside. The fire departments on scene made the right call to fight it defensively and just protect the exposures first. Sad to see a piece of history gutted like that but gotta make hard calls sometimes.

[@dingoproductions]

Native Kentite watching from Germany and feeling bereft…

[@suzylarry1]

these old structures with the grain dust in them burns for ever and a day. 192 N Water st.

[@danielbostwick5601]

As an Alumni of KSU I am so sad to see this. Hope everyone was ok. God Bless the fireman putting it out. This was a noted landmark around the own.

[@danielbostwick5601]

If I remember correctly..this factory was run by the Archway Cookie company when I was at Kent. Does anyone else remember this?

[@johndenton5555]

Was it a grain mill? was it still in operation?

[@johnhurd6243]

Flour mill, and they moved operations out of the building 10 years ago.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

In the mid-1950s a grain mill in Dallas, located off of Butler Street in what is now the medical district, exploded with some loss of life. I remember it because my great-uncle lived across the street and was awakened by the blast. Even then the hazards of grain mills were known, but operators hate to do the maintenance that could make them safe.

[@paladro]

cutting costs and putting lives at risk, the american way, pfft.

[@MrKornhole]

What was made at the mill? Was there a risk of secondary explosions? If so why were people allowed so close?

[@johnhurd6243]

Flour mill

[@MrKornhole]

That's why the second question, why were people allowed so close. A blast would have killed alot.

[@queenmaia2012]

Thank you for sharing

[@brandy2378]

So many comments say 'I used to live in Kent', now I know why small towns are dying.

[@geraldreisz7445]

When I was going to school at UEI I had and apartment in the house at Kent State airport, this was in 1968, I don't remember this mill. I hope no one was hurt

[@pollyhemp6223]

Not many Kent land marks left. What a shame. Any idea what caused it?

[@ProbablyTooLoud]

Grain mills and elevators are extremely dangerous because of the grain dust. In concentration, it’s basically an explosive. Open augers are no picnic either.

[@LunarEquity93]

I live in Newark Ohio and a old abandoned building caught fire a few months ago in Newark and West main Street had to be closed indefinitely until the building was tore down they're supposed to put some apartments and a shopping center in its place they ruled that fire a arson they said some homeless people set it on fire

[@jerrykinnin7941]

What mill? I've only been to Kent to deliver parts to the Toyota dealer. The it was on to Akron.

[@davidimhoff2118]

I don't live in Ohio so can I get some context? Was this operating when the fire took place? What did they mill? We have a lot of old mills here in Taunton, MA. We were the silver city. Since all the mills were closed and boarded up, every few years someone would set one ablaze.

[@johnhurd6243]

It was a flour mill

[@davidimhoff2118]

@@johnhurd6243 Thanks. Such a shame.

[@grahamporter5415]

What explosion?

[@m.m.7511]

Why couldn't they get around the other side of the building I think this is a fail on the fire department side

[@gregoryh4601]

Two thing When are these Big City start having Helicopters 💦. Also why did they Stop the Water ?

[@jeffreynemitz8060]

this explains all the sirens

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

What kind of product did the mill produce?

[@zalmaflash]

I honestly don't know but it sure looks like a flour mill.

[@benwilkins6208]

Flour, but I think it was abandoned at the time of the fire

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

@@zalmaflash Thanks very much.

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

@@benwilkins6208 Thank you. Having worked at a papermill for 43 years, I was very much concerned about people losing their jobs.

[@joestewart5692]

smoke mostly

[@sherwincody5025]

i drive truck and my son would ride with me, we would load wheat,mids, in a hopper bottom grain trailer, in kent and go to the coffee shop across the street to get a coffee, hot chocolate, and a pastry, while getting loaded, good memories

[@Burn377]

Never a good thing, I worked for a large abattoir employing roughly 1000 people in a small community that suffered a fire in 2016. Displaced and destroyed a lot of families over the few years it took to get it back on its feet.

[@WillieDuitt1]

This mill hadn't been in operation for about 10 years so no where as bad as your situation

[@mudchair16]

Abattoirs have burned all over the Western world the past couple decades. Big globalist agenda against quality meat.

[@WillieDuitt1]

@@mudchair16 This was a flour mill that had nothing to do with meat.

[@budlistar5312]

I’ve lived in Oklahoma for 50 yrs now but I grew up in Stow (class of 72) not to far from there. Never realized how much history was in that area until I moved away. It’s a shame to loose some of it.

[@kentgwyn3230]

Nice job on the video. It is a shame about the mill.

[@jtlbz]

I guess somebody needed some insurance money for Christmas!!!

[@RevMishka]

Our Mill here in Johnson City, Tennessee burned several years ago…well over 100 years old it was being purchased to be refurbished as apartments. Vandals set fire to stop the project. The fire department was able to save the majority and now some four years later it’s finished. It’s beautiful and is a testament to the architectural firm that blended the old historic with the new use plans. Hopefully yours will be able to be salvaged.

[@terrillschneider3778]

That’s what my grandma told me when I was a little boy that flour in a silo was one of the most explosive things in the world

[@timothypetit5799]

I noticed one area in the internet it says it was operational and then there's another area that it says it was not operational since 1999 so what is the operational or not operational if it was operational then we have a loss if it wasn't operational then it's no big deal

[@lauracoleman2387]

Aw, if this fire is due to poor maintenance or any man related cause, I sure do hope there will be accountability. Because this is dangerous and its a financial hardship. I hope no one got hurt

[@brianmorris364]

That place has been closed down for a while, I'd bet it's faulty wiring, arson by vandals, or an insurance hustle. The park below it by the tracks is a known hangout for drug users. I still miss the Friendlys ice cream across the corner that was there about 3 decades ago. Unfortunately that building is going to be a total loss no matter what and the fire dept would have been better off letting it burn to the ground and just containing it to the property. Big waste of time, effort, and money. Not to mention the danger it posed to emergency responders. What a shame. I remember seeing random lights outside that place from time to time and wondering if it was homeless people squatting. That could have been another possibility for how the fire started. It's cold outside, a bum could have lot a small fire on a concrete floor and ignited old grain dust. I hope they get to the bottom of the how and why. Noway e they can put a dispensary there or a nice strip club lol

[@amberobney9849]

Nice footage guy.

[@righttobeararmsetc.8492]

Was it just a real old building the fire department used for training or was it used still

[@righttobeararmsetc.8492]

It really looks old and worn out

[@johnhurd6243]

Neither, it closed as a mill 10 years ago. Was purchased and had plans to be renovated into apartments.

[@Jon4784]

What caused it to catch fire

[@thomasanglin5888]

Was it active or abandoned?

[@davidhelsem8794]

YES! 🤔😵‍💫😮🙈🙉🙊😖

[@markperron851]

The mill closed about ten years ago

[@phild8095]

Just seeing this fire reminds me of a visit I made as an engineer to Malden Mills factory in Lowell Massachusetts less than a year before their fire. I told my boss we were to small of a player in the air quality business to get involved in a project of this size, and that the place looked like a fuel air bomb about to go off. He said he saw a lot dollar signs, I said I saw a lot of lawyers. side note, You guys have a nice river walk.

[@mizzo_beeto]

I remember that fire I lived about a quarter mile away

[@richardbause2453]

Nobody listened 😕 and the fire 🔥 bomb 💣 went off...

[@coreycrabb-lv8cl]

I worked 20+ years in a wood flour mill in Sheboygan Wi.ellingers wood flour.There were 2 fires there many years ago.The fire department was spraying water on the fire which took the hot embers and floated elsewhere and would smolder deep into wood shaving pile.The other fire was lighting.Very dangerous with wood sawdust and a spark of any kind..boom They still make wonderful wooden salad bowls,plus other kitchen items,

[@beverlymichael5830]

I am not familiar what kind of business was this

[@brushbros]

Stay warm! hahaha not really funny. What camera did you use? Nice job.

[@FarmallFanatic]

Mill that produces what?

[@pete5668]

flour, abandoned long ago

[@thomasfields2082]

Haven't been there in years but that is just sad.

[@Radionut]

Good job of filming this however hold your camera on the subject you’re filming and quit moving around. Excellent job thanks for videoing this and posting it. I live down in Hamilton Ohio

[@johnhurd6243]

Would you like the fire reset? So it can be filmed again to meet your standards?

[@jambcom6519]

Did I miss the explosion?.

[@dbs555]

That type of building can develop a fire similar to a Swedish torch vertical cooking fire. The air enters at the base of the structure and is pulled upwards, increasing the size of the fire and the heat produced. Also the risk of an explosion is quite high, hence the standoff monitors putting was water on it from a distance.

[@bonniebrown4186]

I know Kent been there many Tim’s and my wife and I used to visit people at the Kent college. To socialize remember 4 Dead in Ohio . It is a little Town that gets big things that happen and I just wonder why at this time ? Like out of the Blue.

[@gregktm]

Sad. They just can't reach the seat of the fire. Good effort brothers/sisters!

[@dennisb-trains23]

I'm guessing this was a closed grain mill? Kent Feeds?

[@vinman1029]

Closed in 2016

[@davidhelsem8794]

@@vinman1029 there are apparently three choices. 1) closed in 1999, 2) closed 2016, 3) still operating, with over $15 million produced yearly. ?????

[@vinman1029]

I haven't seen any trucks in there in years.

[@staceylpittman532]

What is/was milled there?

[@vinman1029]

Grain

[@cleokey]

Very sad, what type of mill is this?

[@ArturoRailProductions]

Flour mill

[@cleokey]

@@ArturoRailProductions thanks

[@JT-SE-OHIO]

It's always a shame when a business takes a hit like this. I hope it can recover. I don't know how many employees worked there but I hope it's not the whole town and it will cause everyone to move away and the town returns to nature like so many other once thriving towns have in the past. We need to keep the 'made in the USA' going and bring back the small manufacturing business' that once made America great.

[@ShainAndrews]

You're not very bright are you... Don't bother to research anything. Don't bother to listen...

[@johnhurd6243]

That building as a mill has been closed for a few years. It was purchased and was planned for renovation. They where looking to preserve the stacks to turn into apartments

[@rt3box6tx74]

To hear some of these OSHA loving geniuses talk every grain mill in the country should be shut down based merely on what might happen. This attitude has led to a country that's playing it so safe nothing happens except some cubicle Karen holding safety meetings. Before long we'll have to send our grain to Mexico for milling and hope to hell we get some flour back. You never know if their cartel dictator will honor your contract or steal your grain. Funny how so many of these hand-wringing cubicle dwellers have all the answers on the safe way to do everything chapter and verse, by the book. Believe me, at today's prices there was no grain left in that building. If they left any behind ten yrs ago when it closed down it was stolen a five gallon bucket at a time to feed someone's backyard chickens or hogs. All agriculture work is dangerous but everyone raises hell when a sack of flour goes up ten cents in price, while the rest of the economy rises at 10 times that rate. I never understood a person carrying around the latest model iPhone griping about the cost of food. There was probably some amazing lumber in there from old growth forests. What a shame it's all gonna burn, but I doubt that town has the equipment to fight that type of fire safely. The salvage/cleanup bill alone will cost a fortune.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

@@johnhurd6243 So in the end, it sounds like it was really no big loss after all. As long as developers and real estate agents take a hit, that's always a plus.

[@elvisbest3213]

as a fireman these kinda fires are the worst to fight

[@DebbieOnTheSpot]

I agree, as a firefighter. These are the easiest to put out.

[@FreemanWithrow]

Why because we stand there and watch the master streams do all the work ? They are not hard just have to let them burn until it consumes enough fuel and starves itself. Big fire big water and we don't have enough water .

[@Rosethatwantstomove]

So many grain mills are catching on fire in the last yr or 2 this makes me wonder if it was arson

[@carlfalt174]

What did the mill produce?

[@Psyrecx]

Flames

[@Preobrazhensky80]

Flour

[@russelltackett4779]

@@Psyrecx 😡

[@duradim1]

@@Psyrecx Smart ass. But I loved it.

[@joestewart5692]

smoke mostly

[@hillcrinton1416]

Dear Friends...Have you all thought about this, Why are so many plants across USA "BURNING DOW"? WHO IS BEHIND ALL THIS????

[@kennyp507]

Are these plants just old w/ added on additions as the demand for more products grown?

[@derrellsheets2370]

They want 2 rid of us

[@ryanlounsbery9326]

I agree with you about all the food plants burning down. But this particular mill stopped production in 2016. Probably a insurance scam or kids.

[@jefflaird7478]

What kind of mill is this?

[@alfenner3309]

This isn't a terrorist type of scenario. USA or otherwise. These mills run rubber belts that operate everything in these mills. There are fibers within these belts when they deteriorate the fiber at times gets super hot and ignites. These belts aren't easy to change out. Some mills that are old and pre-1900's when built have wooden floors. Many mills have updated there structures but internal temper bins are usually made of wood as well. But to answer your comment. No way in hell is this or any recent mill fires intentional.

[@adnacraigo6590]

Sad. Most of my family were employed by textile mills in the past.

[@787kiana]

Always passing it I thought that’s gonna catch on fire soon it always had fire coming out of the top never understood why.

[@busterhyman6638]

Its amazing that in lest than 2 years time there has been over 130 food mills. Food processing plants , refineries , explosions and on fire, to name just a few

[@vinman1029]

They want us to only eat government cheese.

[@RICDirector]

Right. And burning the mills that feed the cattle, sheep, and goats ftom whose milk cheese is made, makes SO much sense!

[@ShainAndrews]

Cite a reliable source for allegations. Regardless this mill had not been in operation for more than a decade.

[@jasonwhite5125]

@@ShainAndrews how about you just do some research for urself there ratboy, instead of reporting ppl and accusing ppl of misinformation 😂😂😂. We got us another deep state snitch in the mix here folks😆😆😆. Anyone that reports truth, ol shain here reports them to the KZbin truth haters 😆😆🖕🏻🖕🏻😘

[@BubaLabinski223]

Wow, that’s quite an inferno. I’ve been a fire fighter for years and it’s a shame they can’t get those sticks the aerial ladders. Closer and higher to really nail that it’s a shame they really can’t get the right angles to attack that fire and what do they make in the mill? Also, that’s what we call a surround and drown.

[@CarolRogers50]

Sure a lot of buildings factories abandoned and in service being burned cities responsible for keep save and secure

[@slicksnewonenow]

For some reason, the words "Insurance Job" come to mind...🤑

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Well, that is one reason we grind our own wheat.

[@raylamp4505]

Another mystery fire!

[@poowg2657]

Friction fire?

[@philliphall5198]

Crazy how many businesses are burning theses days Some thing don’t sound right

[@GoatzombieBubba]

People probably downvoting this cause there was no explosion.

[@jamestboehm6450]

Another Ohio landmark is gone. Empty for all that time and mysteriously catches fire. More rust belt misery.

[@fordnut4914]

I hate to say it but sometimes i dont think fire departments do a very efficient job with battiling fires.

[@wonsik-kim]

Nice video, good friend📬

[@greenmirror5555]

Looks like the water damage is going to be worse than the fire damage!

[@firemanforever3000]

What a shame.

[@m.m.7511]

I live in Ohio...Near their never heard a thing about this??

[@GoatzombieBubba]

Someone in the local government set the fire so the city could tear it down and build something new in its place.

[@randomyoutuberthatdoesntex5236]

aw hell naw bruh what the fuck goin' on in ohio now man :/

[@Fender664string]

Sure hard to put out if it’s been out of service for 10yrs !! Looks like a oil firer!!!! 🤔

[@elewmompittseh]

Very sad...It will be easier for the developer who bought it in 2019 to develop it now I suppose.

[@lazynow1]

Kent, Washington is also a horrible place...true pit...of a place

[@joewearsadroolbib7347]

🔥Where's little Johnny?🔥

[@chuckmaurice3646]

Looks like an all wooden structure?

[@vinman1029]

Yes, I've heard even those silos are wood. The mill dates back to 1880;s.

[@RICDirector]

Usually sheet metal over large old beams. May also have loads of old feed dust which burns well, too. Ugly fire and dangerous; nobody needs a sheet of hot tin or iron coming down on them unexpectedly.

[@alensnowplowing4160]

Good Video 👍👍