Silo rescue tool donated to N. Washington VFD
North Washington Volunteer firefighters gained a new tool Saturday night at the North Washington Rodeo, donated by locals who want to see farmers stay safe.
Firefighters received a silo rescue tool, called the Great Wall of Rescue, presented by the Butler County Farm Bureau.
The tool consists of six panels of metal tied to one another by hinges, allowing the device to fold into a metal, hexagonal tube. The tube is placed down over someone who is trapped in a grain silo.
“Grain bins can crust over and can have voids,” said Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Enscoe. “It can act like quicksand and a victim can quickly become trapped or buried.”
Once the tube is in place, an auger is fed into the tube. The auger then pulls the grain out from around the victim and spits it back into the silo.
“It would be used both for rescues and recoveries,” Enscoe said.
Larry Voll, president of the Butler County Farm Bureau, said the latest donation is third of its kind. In the past, the bureau donated silo tools to firefighters in the Saxonburg and Prospect fire departments.
“We're hoping to get one down in the Zelienople area,” Voll said. “That will help cover our county pretty well.”
According to Voll, funding for the tool primarily came from Dawn Mock, who received an award from the Penn-State Extension. Voll said the bureau bought the auger to finalize the tool.
Voll said grain bins are becoming more popular in recent years. He said he has known many farmers who are switching their main functions and building more silos. He said more silos mean there are more chances that accidents can occur.
Voll said hopefully by having tools in each corner of the county, emergency personnel can get one to any part of the county within 20 minutes.
“We're all farmers. We're all in this together,” Voll said. “We hope to God they never have to use one of them. Knowing it is there and available is great.”
