COURTENAY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Local farmer Steven Somsen, has directed a $2,500 donation to the Courtenay Rural Fire Protection District through an America’s Farmers Grow Communities grant.

The donation will go on to help the organization purchase a grain bin rescue system, which is used to retrieve people trapped in grain bins. Somsen, who is also Fire Chief, stated that all local fire departments in the area have a set and after an accident last year near Kensal, they have gone through training to use the equipment.

According to Farm Progress, there have been over 900 cases of grain engulfment over the last 50 years, with 62% of them ending in fatality. America’s Farmers Grow Communities has helped donated over $16.5 million to over 7,300 communities across America in the past five years.