The Lewisburg Rural Fire Department hosted a fire fighting training exercise at Lonny Epley’s farm near Lewisburg. Firefighters trained on how to extricate a victim trapped in a grain bin using a Turtle Tube Rescue Sleeve designed for this purpose. This was a joint training exercise involving over fifty firefighters from Logan County and surrounding  areas. The Logan County Farm Bureau Federation donated the rescue sleeve to the Lewisburg Rural Fire Department for use by surrounding fire departments when and if needed. It will be located at the Epley Station Fire Substation. The Olmstead Fire department has a similar device called a Resque Tube. Dale Dobson, Safety Administrator from the

Kentucky Department of Agriculture conducted a training exercise with the firefighters concerning the unique difficulty of how to extract a victim trapped in a grain bin in loose grain. Dobson demonstrated techniques and necessary equipment that is needed to complete the task without further injuring the victim. The firefighters took turns working in loose soybeans with a simulated rescue in a grain truck in order that all could see how it is done.

Reliance AG, Hopkinsville Elevator and the Logan County Cattlemen’s club which grilled ribeye steak sandwiches for the participants, helped sponsor this event. The following fire departments and organizations were involved with this training exercise: Lewisburg Rural Fire Department, Lewisburg City Fire Department, Adairville Fire Department, Olmstead Fire Department, Russellville City Fire Department, Russellville Rural Fire Department, Auburn City Fire Department, Butler County Second District Fire Department, Bowling Green City Fire Department, Logan County Search and Rescue and  a PHI Life Flight Helicopter from Greenville.  This was a good event with over seventy people in attendance.