A worker in his 20s was freed Monday morning after a 300-pound electric motor fell on his arm while he worked atop a grain bin in Vicksburg, Michigan. The Kalamazoo Metro Technical Rescue Team was called to the scene on Oct. 5 after the motor pinned the man’s arm against his leg. The height of the grain bin and the weight of the equipment created a complicated situation that required specialized rescue personnel.
Members of the rescue team, including personnel from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, arrived with equipment designed for high-angle and technical rescue operations. They worked with crews already at the scene to develop a plan that would stabilize the equipment, free the man’s arm and bring him down safely.
Responders faced a combination of agricultural machinery and high-angle rescue hazards that required close coordination throughout the incident.
Technical rescue incidents like this one don’t happen often, but they involve complex and rapidly changing hazards. The Kalamazoo Metro Technical Rescue Team trains regularly to stay prepared for these high-risk situations.
The operation brought together the Kalamazoo Metro Technical Rescue Team, Portage MI Dept of Public Safety - Police & Fire, and South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority. According to Fire Marshal Scott Brooks and Fire Lt. Tim Loso, the response demonstrates the importance of regional partnerships and specialized rescue capabilities for agricultural, industrial and other complex emergencies throughout Kalamazoo County.
