09.02.24 — (Left to right) Firefighter / EMT John Debenham, Acting Officer / Paramedic Jon Gwartney, Firefighter / Paramedic Staci Munoz, Senior Firefighter / Advanced EMT Anthony Bogowith, and Captain / EMT George Wiecken in front of aerial ladder Quint 650 used during the rescue.
On September 2, 2024, members of the Potawatomi Tribal Fire Department (PTFD) rescued a man who became trapped in a grain silo engulfed in soybeans in the northwest part of the PBPN Common Lands near the area of 174th & G Road. The man’s wife called PTFD directly at the fire station requesting help. The team provided the trained assistance and critical equipment needed for a successful technical rescue.
The PTFD team were the first to arrive on scene. As the highest trained and most experienced technical rescue technicians present, the crew took primary responsibility for the rescue and guided the multi-agency team that successfully extricated the trapped farmer. Using their aerial ladder as a stable high point anchor, the team utilized rope rescue equipment and neighboring agencies’ grain rescue equipment to implement a safe and effective rescue plan. PTFD, Hoyt Fire, Mayetta Fire, and Delia Fire personnel all worked together for an hour to free the trapped man. Due to their efforts, he was able to come to the Tribal Fire Station a few days later and thank the crew in person.
For their efforts, Acting Officer / Paramedic Jon Gwartney, Senior Firefighter / Advanced EMT Anthony Bogowith, Firefighter / Paramedic Staci Munoz, Firefighter / EMT John Debenham, and Captain / EMT George Wiecken were presented with Outstanding Service Awards.
The positive outcome of this call is just one example taken from the multitude that PTFD firefighters are responsible for each year. This type of integrated teamwork makes the critical life-saving cooperation between the agencies in southern Jackson County and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation possible.
09.02.24 — Senior Firefighter / Advanced EMT Anthony Bogowith (at top of silo) and Acting Officer / Paramedic Jon Gwartney (scaling aerial ladder) perform the rescue.
09.02.24 — (Top to bottom) Captain / EMT George Wiecken and Senior Firefighter / Advanced EMT Anthony Bogowith rescue the man engulfed in soybeans.