Logan County is now home to the first fire service-owned, portable grain bin rescue vacuum in Kentucky, a piece of equipment acquired in the wake of a grain bin accident in Logan County last year. The purchase is thanks to the generous pockets of those who want to make sure if a grain or farm-related accident happens again, those helping will have what they need to save a life.
On Dec. 11, 2024, Olmstead Fire Chief Dan Kemp said his department responded to a call of a person trapped over his head in a grain bin in Olmstead. Kemp said while rescue tubes and augers were used, the departments found they did not have enough of the proper equipment to handle a full-scale rescue.
The farmer was saved “by the grace of God,” and afterward talk began that set the wheels in motion to acquire what was needed in case this happens again. Grain bin entrapments are complex and dangerous, according to Kemp, and can be challenging due to movement, the need for specialized equipment, and the risk of further grain flow. The average rescue can last up to six hours, according to Kemp.
