Grain Bin Rescue in Smithton

Missouri- Emergency crews rescued a man trapped in a grain bin Friday morning near Smithton.

Smithton Fire Protection District Chief Mike Schutzenhofer said the man, whose name was not released, is in his 30s. He did not appear to have any serious injuries, but he was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital as a precaution.

“He was very fortunate,” Schutzenhofer said. “He was conscious, breathing, alert and answering EMS questions — that was a good sign.”

The incident happened about 11 a.m. at 3813 Klein School Road near Smithton. Schutzenhofer said the man was cleaning the walls of the grain bin filled with feed for hogs when he became trapped.

“While they were cleaning, it broke loose and he got trapped inside,” Schutzenhofer said.

At first the feed was over his head, Schutzenhofer said, but other farm workers at Schilling’s Farm were able to clear the area around his head.

“When we arrived, he was waist deep in it,” Schutzenhofer said.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene including Freeburg Fire Department and the St. Clair County Special Emergency Services. St. Louis Fire Department also was headed to the scene, but was canceled once the man was freed.

Schutzenhofer said the man was rescued in about an hour. Firefighters with the Smithton Fire Protection District and other departments undergo special training for confined space rescue.

About Author

countyfiretactics

Curt Isakson is a 35 year veteran of the fire service. Curt is currently a Battalion Chief for Escambia County Fire Rescue. Previously worked 9 years with the Pensacola Fire Department where he was assigned as the Company Officer on Rescue 31. Curt’s fire service experiences started at a young age as a Junior firefighter with the Midway Fire Protection District and rose through the ranks to Captain. He has worked in volunteer, career, and combination departments.

Curt has held all ranks up to Battalion Chief and been assigned to operations, training, inspections, and was Chief of Special Operations for 7 years. Curt owns and operates County Fire Tactics that covers a very diverse range of fire service topics, as well as Firefighter Rescues, a site that documents rescues made by firefighters around the country.

He has annual contracts with numerous departments to provide standardized monthly training for these departments that respond daily together under an automatic aid agreement. Curt teaches nationally to include; FDIC, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Orlando Fire Conference, Atlanta Fire Conference, Bowling Green State University, and owns/operates the annual HROC, COBC, WOTF, CFT ODP on Pensacola Beach. He is a Florida Certified Fire Officer, Instructor, Inspector, Arson, and FLUSAR.

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