Greenview Fire-Rescue Services hosted the region’s first BeGrainSafe Firefighter Grain Entrapment Rescue training in conjunction with two Canadian Premiere Drive-In style screenings of the independent film, Silo, over the weekend of August 7-9, 2020, in DeBolt, AB, for a weekend of community education and awareness.  

Regional Fire Chief Wayne Brown stated, “I am extremely pleased with the success of the course and public outreach, his critical training provides our regional fire fighters with the expertise and equipment to address a clear and present danger within all of our agricultural communities.  Hosting the Canadian premiere of the movie “SILO” is an honour and certainly increased community awareness to an event that can cause tragedy in a matter of moments.” 

(Courtesy MD of Greenview)

Members of the public were invited to observe 30 firefighters from 8 different fire departments and stations perform live rescue simulation training with the BeGrainSafe Mobile Silo Bin on Sunday, August 9, at the DeBolt Public Service Building in DeBolt, AB. firefighters from all three Greenview Fire Stations were in attendance along with firefighters from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Fox Creek, Laglace, Sexsmith, and Teepee Creek. 

The need across the country for grain entrapment rescue training and awareness was hammered home at the Greenview Open House on Sunday, with attendees coming to observe from as far as Tomslake, BC. Social engagement shared by attendees and firefighters has generated requests from provinces as far as Saskatchewan for details on how to bring this valuable training to their rural communities. 

In addition to the Grain Entrapment rescue training, two drive-in style Canadian premiere screenings of SILO were held free-of-charge at the Cranberry Lake Rodeo grounds with over 150 viewers. SILO is the first-ever feature film about grain entrapment, a possible tragedy that agricultural communities face every day. Greenview Fire-Rescue Services is grateful to the DeBolt and District Agricultural Society for providing a grant, making these movie screenings possible. They would also like to thank Farm Credit Canada for a grant which helped make the Grain Entrapment Rescue Training with the BeGrainSafe simulator possible.