Mechanicsville Fire Department raising funds for grain bin rescue equipment

Oct. 6, 2022 6:00 am

Mechanicsville volunteer firefighters train with equipment for grain bin rescues. The department is raising money in order to purchase its own equipment. (Submitted)

A Mechanicsville volunteer firefighter awaits rescue from a grain bin during training exercises. The department is raising money to buy its own grain rescue equipment. (Submitted)

MECHANICSVILLE — After responding to a grain bin rescue near Mount Vernon this past winter, the Mechanicsville Fire Department is raising funds to buy grain bin rescue equipment.

The volunteer department and other rural fire departments assisted in the rescue of four men trapped in a corn spill in February, using equipment from the other departments.

After that experience, Jo Ann Crock, who handles grants and funding for the department, said Fire Chief Jake Koch OK’d her looking into funding so the department could buy its own equipment.

In July, the volunteers practiced grain rescues with equipment from a nearby department so they’d be ready when they get their own equipment.

The department raised $13,000 for the equipment, with $12,000 of that coming from corporate donations, including $5,000 from Corteva and from Farm Credit Services of America, according to a news release from the department.

The department is hosting a pancake breakfast Sunday to raise additional funds, some of which will go toward the equipment purchase. Mechanicsville, a Cedar County city of 1,000, is on Highway 30 east of Cedar Rapids.

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