Serving all of DeKalb County, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division 6 Technical Rescue Team is equipped with grain rescue tubes and has used them in rescues and recoveries.
“We’ve been involved in grain bin rescues and recoveries in Genoa, Mendota, Utica and Steward,” said Todd Stoffa, technical rescue coordinator and a captain of the DeKalb Fire Department.
Stoffa says rescue team members are trained regularly on using the steel and polymer tubes. The technical rescue team consists of 20 members from DeKalb and Sycamore Fire Departments.
They also work with other local fire departments who may need their assistance even though some of the rural fire departments have their own grain rescue tubes.
The technical rescue team has trained for grain bin rescues at local farms and area grain elevators.
Stoffa’s advice for farmers is: “Shut the auger off. Don’t go in a grain bin without the proper gear. Make sure you are tethered. And have someone with to assist.”