Carrington Fire Department hosts March 13 grain bin extrication exercise

When or if the situation arises, the knowledge is there. That's the play-it-forward approach the Carrington Volunteer Fire Department and other area departments look at the situational training held Saturday, March 13, at the local fire station.

Twenty-six first responders and fire department personnel participated in a Grain Bin Extrication Training exercise during the day. With classroom, on-the-spot recovery training, portable bins, augers and realistic situations set up for the responders to work first-hand. Those present for the class were members of the Carrington, Kensal and New Rockford fire departments, and the Carrington Health Center Ambulance.

Instructors were Chris Kankelfritz, owner of ACK Tech Rescue Training of Fargo; Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen; and Paul Bensch of the Jamestown Rural Fire Department.

The scope of this course was to educate responders about grain storage facility types, their construction, and operating features. OSHA regulations, physical, environmental hazards and potential rescue resources were identified to ensure the response falls within the requirements, thus minimizing fire department civil or criminal liability. Scene management and safety were discussed, in conjunction, with locating and making contact with the victim. Appropriate non-entry rescue efforts were identified. Various cutting tools were used in a simulated rescue to assist in the removal of grain from the system.

Upon completion of the class, the student will possess the ability to function as a support member to a rescue team conducting rescue operations at a grain storage facility. Training utilizes the NDFA Mobile Grain Bin Engulfment Rescue Trailer. Each hands-on session begins with a safety briefing, which includes an orientation of the trailer, followed by rescue evolutions under live conditions.

Chief Wangen, in summarizing the training session, offered the following facts and figures related to accidents happening in the area of grain storage facilities:

• In 2019, there were 67 agriculture, confined spaces incidents nationwide, which were documented as; 39 fatal and 28 nonfatal.

• This was a 9.8% increase from the previous year.

• There were eight cases involving a child or youth under the age of 21.

• Twenty nine (78%) occurred on the farms or other locations currently exempt from compliance.

Wangen also noted how fast this can happen:

• Two or three seconds to become entrapped in flowing grain.

• Another 10 seconds and one can become totally submerged.

• Victims are commonly engulfed while walking across the grain surface during unloading operations.

• Flowing grain creates a funnel effect, drawing material to the conveyor.

The Carrington chief, in conclusion, said, "The department offers a word of thanks to Central City Grain of Carrington for the grain used in the training session on Saturday.",