By Jessie Weisner (Twitter: @Jessie__Weisner)

Local firefighters demonstrate grain entrapment rescue training

Jun 29, 2018 | 11:12 AM

The kick-off to Marketplace on Main drew hundreds of people Thursday, with one attraction drawing a lot of attention.

Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Service had members from local fire stations performing grain entrapment rescue training.

Firefighters performed rescue demonstrations using the BeGrainSafe trailer with the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association (CASA). The trailer has a built-in silo with a capacity of 7,000 pounds of grain.

Firefighters harnessed a team member, and then submerged them into the grain-filled bin using an auger to about chest deep.

Once entrapped, demonstrators used grain rescue tubes in combination with an auger to safely extract the grain from around the person until they were freed.

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Rob Gobeil with CASA says training local emergency responders is essential.

“When an emergency like this occurs, our farmers are going to call 911 and our first responders are the ones who need the training ultimately,” says Gobeil.

According to CASA, six to eight people die from grain entrapment every year in Canada. Gobeil says the main reason for deaths is completely preventable.

“The main cause for these situations is grain that’s in poor condition,” says Gobeil. “Often the producer will enter the bin to scale away or poke at the crusted over grain. If it’s bridged over top, there’s often a void underneath the crusted grain, and the void gives way when they have their weight on it. They’re of course not tied off, and then they get entrapped.”

Gobeil adds that an average auger moves about 7000 pounds of grain per minute, causing the grain to act like quick sand.

However, taking simple precautions can prevent many of these accidents.

“The producers need to have a good policy on not working alone, and just plan ahead,” says Gobeil. “Use a buddy system, make sure someone knows you’ve gone into a bin.”

Twelve members from four fire stations in Clearwater County have now taken the Grain Rescue Training Course.