In an ongoing effort to prevent fatal grain entrapment accidents, Nationwide and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) provided 58 fire departments across rural America with grain rescue tubes and training as part of the 2024 Grain Bin Safety campaign. This initiative, launched in 2014, equips emergency responders with the tools and knowledge needed to save lives in grain bin emergencies—a leading cause of confined space-related injuries and deaths in agricultural settings.
Over the past decade, Nationwide's campaign has delivered grain rescue equipment and training to 390 first responders in 32 states, amounting to over $1.7 million in resources. The impact is significant, with 13 documented rescues thanks to the program, six of which occurred in 2024 alone.
Each participating fire department receives hands-on training with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators, designed by NECAS to hold approximately 100 bushels of grain. These simulators, transported on 20-foot trailers, allow for realistic rescue exercises that combine classroom instruction with practical, emergency-response scenarios. The training covers proper rescue techniques, safety protocols, and the use of specialized rescue tubes that prevent grain from engulfing victims.
This year’s recipients were selected from over a thousand nominations through the “Nominate Your Fire Department Contest,” a key part of Nationwide's Grain Bin Safety advocacy. Among the departments receiving equipment and training are fire services from states across the country, including Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Kansas.
Nationwide's program, supported by NECAS and numerous agricultural partners, continues to expand each year. The organization plans to deliver additional rescue tubes and training sessions in 2024.
Grain rescue tubes and training were awarded to the following 58 fire departments this year:
- Alicia Volunteer Fire Department – Alicia, AR
- Amity Volunteer Fire Department – Franklin, IN
- Aubbeenaubbee Volunteer Fire Department – Leiters Ford, IN
- Burnettsville Volunteer Fire Company – White, IN
- Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Company – Nazareth, PA
- Cecilton Volunteer Fire Department – Cecilton, MD
- Chautauqua County Emergency Services – Mayville, NY
- Church Hill Fire Department – Church Hill, MD
- Clinton Township Fire Department – Tiffin, OH
- Citizens Hose Company – Smyrna, DE
- City of Ludington Fire Department – Ludington, MI
- City of Russell Fire Department – Russell, KS
- Conway Fire Department – Atkins, AR
- Crabtree Fire Department – Crabtree, PA
- Dickeyville New Paris Fire – Dickeyville, WI
- Edinburg Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. – Edinburg, VA
- Elberon Fire and Rescue – Elberon, IA
- Froid Volunteer Fire Department – Froid, MT
- Gilbert-Franklin Township Fire Station – Gilbert, IA
- Golva Rural Fire Protection District – Golva, ND
- Grafton Volunteer Fire Department – Grafton, OH
- Hannaford Fire Department – Hannaford, ND
- Hartford County Special Operations Team – Forest Hill, MD
- Hartly Volunteer Fire Company – Hartly, DE
- Hockessin Fire Company – Hockessin, DE
- Hoffman Fire Protection District – Hoffman, IL
- Iowa State University Feed Mill – Ames, IA
- Iselin/West Lebanon Fire Company – Saltsburg, PA
- Jasper Volunteer Fire Department – Jasper, MN
- Jefferson Township Fire Department – Bowersville, OH
- Jessamine County Fire District – Nicholasville, KY
- Lake of the Four Seasons Fire Force – Hebron, IN
- Lawrence County Fire & Rescue – Lawrenceburg, TN
- Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company – Woodbine, MD
- Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department – Mulberry, IN
- Marion Fire Company – Stounchsburg, PA
- Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company – Maugansville, MD
- Melrose Volunteer Fire Department – Melrose, IA
- New Midway Fire Company – New Midway, MD
- Newell Volunteer Fire Department – Newell, WV
- North Marshall Fie Department – Britton, SD
- Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Company – Dallas, PA
- Norway Fire & Rescue – Norway, IA
- Penn Township – Vandalia, MI
- Petit Jean Fire Department/Conway County Volunteer Fire Department – Morrilton, AR
- Poe Volunteer Fire Department – Ft. Wayne, IN
- Red Bud Fire Department – Red Bud, IL
- Rowan County Rescue Squad – Salisbury, NC
- Royalton Volunteer Fire Department – Royalton, IL
- Scipio Fire Department – Scipio Center, NY
- Stuttgart Fire Department – Stuttgart, AR
- Tate County Emergency Services – Senatobia, MS
- Teutopolis Fire Protection District – Teutopolis, IL
- Towanda Fire Department – Towanda, IL
- Upperco Volunteer Fire Department – Upperco, MD
- West Mineral Volunteer Fire Department – West Mineral, KS
- West Point Volunteer Fire Department – West Point, IN
- Wheaton Fire Protection District – Wheaton, MO
- Maryland Commodity Classic – Centreville, MD – presentation
- Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company – Jarrettsville, MD – re-training
- Harrington Volunteer Fire Company – Harrington, DE – re-training
- Elgin Beaverdam Hose Company – Erie County, PA – re-training
- Rome Fire Department – Rome, OH – re-training
- Portland Volunteer Fire Department – Portland, IN – re-training
- Rushville Township Volunteer Fire Department – Rushville, IN – re-training
- Dermott Fire Department – Dermott, AR– re-training
- Salem, South Dakota high school students and community members – presentation
