On Saturday, August 21, 2021 Braman Fire Department was the host training site for area firefighters as well as grain handling facility employees and area farmers. The Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training partnered with Pioneer Technology Center Firefighter/EMT Instructor Gary Vap, who is also this area’s rural training specialist for OSU-FST, and Johnny Thornburgh, Pioneer Tech Industrial Coordinator, to provide training with the Grain Engulfment/Confined Space Rescue Trailer. This is a one of-a-kind rescue simulation trainer and funded by an assistance to firefighters grant. The trailer is used in support of training that is a product of the Susan B. Harwood OSHA grant. Oklahoma State University purchased the 40’ grain engulfment/ entrapment rescue training trailer in April of 2017.

Kris Spencer, Braman Fire Department Chief requested the training due to an area farmer’s request. James Moreland of Moreland Farms wanted to provide training for grain industry/farm employees and area first responders on how to work safely in the grain storage bin environments and how to safely rescue employees from grain engulfment for those who would be responding. The training was free of charge to all participants with 29 people from across North Central Oklahoma and Southern Kansas attending.

Instructors with the training sessions included retired fireman Gary Baustert with Okarche Fire Department, Mark Ehnen, Collinsville Fire Department, and Shane Campbell, Midwest City Fire Department. Carol Jones is a retired engineering professor with OSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and works with OSU Fire Services Training. Jorge Delucca, with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on site.

The seminar included morning classroom time receiving awareness training about why grain goes bad and options farmers and elevator workers have rather than climbing in the bin.

The afternoon hands on activity with the mobile grain bin rescue simulator safety trailer provided by OSU Fire Services, was to train first responders who are called to an agricultural scene where grain is stored. The participants are broken up into groups, some are on top of the trailer being buried and learning how to get people out, others are on the ground learning about how to cut a hole in the side of a grain bin and monitor air, and how

to set up tripods made out of ladders. Carol Jones said, “The three groups rotate through the three different stages. Each group will learn how to look at monitors and how to monitor air, learn how to build a tripod out of ladders, and be on top of the bin doing an entrapment and rescue.”

Kay County Farm Bureau sponsored lunch for the attendees. Turtle Plastics supported the training by donating equipment for future training events. The training day concluded with a tour of Moreland Farms’ new grain handling facility north of Braman on Highway 177.

To continue with the information for the public, the Poncan Theatre offered a free showing of the film “Silo, Feeding the world comes at a cost” Sunday afternoon August 22. The movie features a teenage farmhand who becomes entrapped in a grain bin, and the struggle and trials of rescuers that are tasked to save him. The movie has a great storyline and depicts something that happens on farms far more often than most realize. Since 1960, there is a grain entrapment on average every 15 days in the United States, with more than half ending in a fatality. Sponsorship for the matinee film included Sukup Manufacturing, Oscilloscope Laboratories, and Moreland Farms of Braman.

“We were very happy for the great turnout and interest from area fire departments and grain facilities for this event. OSU FST has provided this top tier training all over the US, and we appreciate the instructors and staff for this opportunity to train and learn.” said Gary Vap.

“There are literally hundreds of grain storage facilities in our area, from small, on-farm grain bins to large facilities that have a bushel storage capacity in the hundreds of thousands. This training could not only save the lives of the victims, but the rescuers as well. We plan to expand the training opportunities and offer more classes for area first responders in the future.”

If anyone has any questions about training available they can contact Gary Vap at 580-716-0876 or email garyv@pioneertech.edu.