Grain bin accidents send shockwaves through rural communities as farmers and grain handlers know all too well how quickly entering a grain bin can turn deadly. To help prevent these accidents that result in dozens of lives lost each year, insurance company Nationwide regularly provides life-saving resources to rural America’s first responders. This year, 58 fire departments across the country were given grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to prepare them to respond when local grain entrapments occur.
As part of its Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign, the company received more than 1,800 nominations across 45 states in the annual Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, which is done in partnership with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. Fifty-eight departments were awarded rescue tubes, while others received additional training.
“We are proud to provide first responders the education and resources to lead the fight against local grain bin entrapments,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “It’s been our mission to bring an end to this industry issue by raising awareness of the dangers and suppling needed equipment to the front line rescuers tasked with responding when accidents occur.”
The winning 2022 fire departments are:
- Allegany County Special Operations, Cumberland, MD
- Argusville Fire Department, Argusville, ND
- Ashley Fire Department, Ashley, IN
- Ashley Fire Protection District, Ashley, IL
- Atalissa Volunteer Fire Department, Atalissa, IA
- Baring Volunteer Fire Department, Baring, MO
- Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Co 10, Bel Alton, MD
- Bennet Rural Fire District, Bennet, NE
- Brandon Fire Department, Brandon, IA
- Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, Westminster, MD
- Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Centerburg, OH
- Clayton Fire Company, Clayton, DE
- Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company, Clear Spring, MD
- Cordova Fire Protection District, Cordova, IL
- Covington Fire & Rescue, Inc., Covington, OH
- Jefferson County Department of Emergency Services, Brookville, PA
- Dwight Rural Fire Department 6, Dwight, KS
- Elderton District Volunteer Fire Company, Elderton, PA
- Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company, Fleetwood, PA
- Genoa Fire Department, Genoa, NY
- Georgetown Fire Company, Inc. Station 77, Georgetown, DE
- Hamlet Fire Department, Hamlet, IN
- Hebron Volunteer Fire Department, Hebron, MD
- Highland Pierron Fire Department, Pocahontas, IL
- Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Hillsboro, IA
- Huntingburg Fire Department, Huntingburg, IN
- Illiopolis Fire Protection District, Illiopolis, IL
- Jefferson Township Fire and Rescue, Richmond Dale, OH
- Kenockee Township Fire Department, Avoca, MI
- Kinmundy-Alma Fire Department, Kinmundy, IL
- Lake Andes Volunteer Fire Department, Lake Andes, SD
- Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Service, Lawrence, NE
- Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Leonardtown, MD
- Mabel Fire and Rescue, Mabel, MN
- Maeystown Fire Department, Maeystown, IL
- Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire District, Mechanicsville, MD
- Milo Rural Fire Department, Milo, MO
- Oakley Fire Department, Oakley, KS
- Ohiowa Rural Fire Department, Ohiowa, NE
- Ottawa County Rural Fire District #4, Bennington, KS
- Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department, Pleasant Unity, PA
- Preston Volunteer Fire Company, Preston, MD
- Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department, Alamo, IN
- Rome Fire Department, Rome, OH
- Saint Paul Mission Township Fire Department, Saint Paul, KS
- Scott Township Fire and EMS, Evansville, IN
- Seaford Volunteer Fire Department, Seaford, DE
- Silvercreek Township Fire Department, Jamestown, OH
- Spring Valley Fire Department, Spring Valley, WI
- Upham Fire Protection District, Upham, ND
- Watertown Township Fire Department, Mayville, MI
- Waubay Volunteer Fire Department, Waubay, SD
- West Kittanning Fire Department, Kittanning, PA
- West Plains Fire Department, West Plains, MO
- Westport Community Volunteer Fire Department, Westport, IN
- Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company, Williamsburg, PA
- Windsor Fire Department, Windsor, OH
- Wood Lake Fire Department, Wood Lake, MN
- Audubon Fire Department (re-training only), Audubon, IA
- Guthrie Center Fire Department (re-training only), Guthrie Center, IA
- Hutchinson Fire Department (re-training only), Hutchinson, MN
- Johnston Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department (re-training only), Johnston, IA
- Superior Ambulance Service & Training Institute (re-training only), Grove City, PA
- Traer Fire Department (re-training only), Traer, IA
The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety will deliver the rescue tubes and training to the winning fire departments throughout 2022, traveling to each location with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators and rescue tubes. The comprehensive training sessions include classroom education and rescue simulations using the entrapment tools, which are loaded onto 20-foot trailers and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain each.
With 2022 donations included, Nationwide and partners have supplied these resources to 265 departments across 31 states. At least five fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped workers.
