Firefighters practice grain rescues

By John Richmeier
Leavenworth Times – September 18, 2013

This past weekend, some local firefighters  found themselves being buried in grain.

It was part of grain engulfment rescue course that was offered at  the headquarters of the Leavenworth Fire Department.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike Lingenfelser, who also served as one of  the instructors for the class, said some firefighters purposely were buried up  to about their waists in grain Saturday morning.

“At that point, they are actually trapped,” he  said.

The firefighters were rescued by fellow students in the  class.

The course was offered through the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training  Institute, which is a University of Kansas continuing education  program.

Lingenfelser said more than 50 people went through at least of a  portion of the class last week. Most of them were members of the Leavenworth  Fire Department, but a couple of members of the Kickapoo Township Fire  Department participated.

There also were three representatives of the company ADM in the  class. ADM loaned the use of grain for the training.

The course included classroom instruction as well as training with a  special trailer.

Lingenfelser said the trailer was used to practice rescuing people  from grain bins and what are known as grain hoppers.

“It’s real live training,” he said.

Even though the Leavenworth doesn’t have grain elevators that are in  operation, Lingenfelser said there are facilities in the city in which this type  of rescue could be required. He said the training techniques can be used for  more than grain engulfment situations.

“It can be sand or gravel or sawdust,” he said.

The classroom portion of the eight-hour course was offered during  the week. Lingenfelser the same instruction was offered three nights in row in  order to accommodate firefighters working different shifts.

The training with the trailer was Saturday morning. Students in the  class also practiced using tools to cut the type of metal used in the  construction of grain bins. Lingenfelser said the metal is tougher to cut “than  a regular sheet of tin.”

The assistant chief said people who took the course seemed impressed  by how realistic the training was.

He said last week’s class marked the first time the course was  offered in Leavenworth County.

“It’s a real sought after class,” he said.

Lingenfelser said the Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute has  had the training trailer since last year. The training was provided in  partnership with state farmers and grain industry associations.

Lingenfelser said the class was offered in Leavenworth free of  charge. He said some members of the Leavenworth Fire Department previously took  the class at another location, and they provided assistance  Saturday.

www.ksffa.com