ARLINGTON, Kansas (KSN) -- One person is in serious condition after a grain elevator explosion in Arlington Thursday.
A 21-year-old Arlington man was going inside the elevator to inspect it when the blast happened just before 7:30 a.m.
The force of the explosion blew out the windows of the headhouse and a door at the base of the elevator.
The inspector was taken to the burn unit in Wichita. No other workers were injured.
Officials say some type of conveyor belt is burning. Fire crews have not been able to extinguish the fire.
Reno County authorities are concerned it could ignite more explosions, so they've declared a disaster area around the elevator.
By late Thursday afternoon, they began evacuating a dozen homes south and west of the elevator.
The families in those homes were being given shelter in a local school. They were allowed to return to their homes around 9:00 p.m.
Traffic on K-61 was being diverted to Arlington and Sterling Road, but officials were working to re-open it Thursday night.
Rail traffic is being allowed by the elevator.
