Area fire departments join for farm rescue training

SPEAKER TWP. — Living in a largely agricultural area, Speaker Township Fire Department Training Officer Sam Mousseau felt there was a need for local firefighters to have an opportunity to take State-certified training in farm equipment rescue. 

Mousseau, a veteran firefighter and lieutenant with the department, experienced the Michigan Agriculture Accident Rescue System firsthand in training held near Gaylord and arranged similar training at the Speaker Township fire hall last weekend. The two-day training included classroom time along with hands-on rescue stations.

“It’s a great course and one that is very important in this area,” Mousseau said. “A large majority of life in this area is ag-related and you never know when something might happen. This training gave guys classroom knowledge and hands-on experience in handling different emergencies.”

While much of Saturday’s training was done in the classroom, following a written test Sunday morning, firefighters donned their turnout gear and used various rescue tools to handle both medical emergencies and entrapments at several stations.

Mousseau said it was a six-month process to organize the training. “I asked these guys [MAARS] to come here and I wanted to make it free for everyone. We had farmers reach out and provided used equipment for us so that was a big deal. 

“The rescue team brings some of their own equipment and rescue tools and the response from sponsors was amazing. Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, we were able to cover the entire cost ($7,500) of the two days, including feeding everyone. Not one of the sponsors I spoke with said No. They were all very supportive,” he said.

Jonathon Deegan, owner of Michigan Rural Rescue Educators, said the advanced class is also a two-day class for a total of 12 hours. 

“It’s a little more intense on the scenario side of things, with eight stations and with bigger equipment,” Deegan explained. “We do a little review of the first class along with a few medical updates and that kind of thing. The second day is all farm extrication exercises using real victims and a little more stressful when the pressure is on and you have people screaming who are caught in various pieces of equipment.”

Last weekend’s hands-on work included stations for stabilization using wooden blocks for cribbing, a “pretend victim” (mannequin) caught in a snowblower, and a MAARS staff member who simulated being an entrapped victim inside a rolled-over skid-steer loader.

Deegan said if the group returns for the second phase using advanced techniques, “there would be eight stations for the firefighters to work through. 

“We’ll have a farm tractor rolled over, a chemical incident using actual de-con strategy, an impaled object prop on a “victim,” we’ll have grain bin sections for them to cut up, using different pieces of rescue equipment, just a good chance for them to get familiar with each other.”

Beyond the technical drills, Deegan emphasized that the collaborative nature of the training is just as essential.

“It’s always fun to watch a group of guys that have never worked together, to see how quickly they gel together and go to work as a team. They’ve done a good job in the classroom and with the scenarios. We mixed the groups up so the same teams weren’t working together all the time. They all did a good job and picked up our suggestions quickly and applied them with various rescues,” Deegan said of last weekend’s class.

When looking at the overall training last weekend, Deegan said the biggest factor is equipment.

“It’s so important to have the right equipment and do whatever you have to in order to get it. Whether it is fundraising or your township/village helping with costs. Training is also big, obviously. It’s great to have these area departments represented so the guys kind of get to know each other and work together as a unit. They’ve all done a good job,” he said.

Firefighters from at least 10 area departments took part in the training, including Elk Township, Speaker Township, the city of Croswell, Lamotte Township, and Port Sanilac from Sanilac County. From St. Clair County departments from Brockway Township, Clay Township, Clyde Township, Ray Township and Kenockee Township attended.

Sponsors for the training included: Tri-County Bank, Tri-County Equipment, Kohler Oil and Propane, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Farm Bureau Insurance, McKenzie Health System, Aspire Rural Health System, Thumb Bank & Trust, Speaker Orchard Market, MNR Auto LLC, Brown City Elevator, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Yale Bakery, Melvin Hogtown Tavern, C-Roys Inc., Johnston Meats in Peck, Vinckier Foods in Yale, Walmart Supercenter, Moose Trax Productions, Brown City Community Schools, J&M Benchwarmers Sports Bar & Grill, and Carolyn Fairman, Speaker Township supervisor.