Kamsack firefighters train to rescue persons trapped in grain

KAMSACK — Eleven Kamsack firefighters spent time on July 12 being trained on how to rescue someone who is trapped in a load of grain.

Kevin Boughton of Stonewall, Man., was the instructor of the course held by the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association (CASA), said Ken Thompson, fire chief. The course was held at Fedoruk Farms near Kamsack.

“We thank Fedoruk Farms for allowing us to conduct the course at their farm and for allowing us to use their grain for the instruction,” Thompson said, adding that funding for the course was provided by Corpeva.”

Corteva Agriscience is a global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovation, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world's most pressing agriculture challenges, according to information from Corteva.

Thompson said that the firefighters, in groups of three, were involved in the course with one person acting as the victim who gets sucked into the grain, while the others conduct the rescue using a large tube and a small auger that sucks the grain from around the victim, allowing the person to escape.

“It was quite a good course,” Thompson said. “It was good to have this training. It is valuable experience for where we are.”

“Grain entrapment is extremely dangerous for the victim and the rescuers,” said information from CASA. “Firefighters must use specific safety and rescue procedures to increase their chances of a successful rescue, while keeping members of their department safe,”.

This training program incorporates both classroom theory and practical training, the information said. It is intended to prepare firefighters to respond to a grain entrapment incident on-farm or at a grain handling facility.

Included in the course were: identification of grain incidents, how they occur, common injuries and types of entrapments; grain handling and storage facilities, including hazard identification; regulatory standards; confined space and fall protection considerations; hazard analysis and risk assessment; equipment required, and practical rescue training.