Firefighters here have a new tool to assist in grain bin rescue operations.
Agriculture industry companies Cargill and Dekalb recently teamed up to donate a grain engulfment rescue tube to the Minto Fire Department.
“Cargill is always looking for meaningful ways to support our local communities, especially if it relates to safety and agriculture. So when we discovered that many rural/small town fire departments did not have this type of grain rescue equipment, we approached the Minto Fire Department about the idea. They did not have the equipment, so we made the offer to supply it for them jointly with one of our key seed suppliers, Dekalb,” stated Cargill’s Shawn Miller.
The tube acts as a shield surrounding a trapped victim so the grain can be removed. Once the grain level is reduced, the victim can be extricated.
Minto Fire Chief Chris Harrow said obtaining the rescue tube “means a lot” to the department, which is in the midst of confined space training for firefighters.
“To be able to perform these types of rescues it’s a major factor for us.”
Funding source
Dan Kaufman of Dekalb pointed out farmers or members of rural communities wishing to provide equipment of this nature for their local fire departments can apply for funding through Monsanto’s Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities program. Information can be found at canadasfarmers.ca.
