Firefighters learn 'grain tube' technique for bin rescues
By Mary Schenk
Thursday June 25, 2009
Vanda Bidwell
Firefighter Mark Stewart, acting as a victim, stands in the 'grain tube,' comprising four tall, interlocking pieces of plastic, as his fellow firefighters work to free him using the new equipment Wednesday at a warehouse at Reynolds Towing in Urbana. Three fire departments, including Urbana's, practiced grain-bin rescues at the facility. The exercises were led by Scott Rieckmann, an instructor for the Safety and Technical Rescue Association from Wisconsin.
URBANA – As a trained rescue specialist, Dave Newcomb doesn't like the odds of getting someone trapped in a grain bin out alive.
"Two out of five are successful recoveries," said the veteran Urbana fire lieutenant. "First you have to expose the person, then decide if it's a rescue or a recovery."
News-Gazette Archive
The full story is available in our paid story archive.
Find this article at:
http://news-gazette.com/news/2009/06/25/firefighters_learn_grain_tube_technique_for_bin_rescues
