Lift Hits Power Line, Leaving Operator Stuck for Hours above Seattle Street
A lift struck a power line in Seattle Wednesday, leaving the operator stuck for hours.
The strike ignited a fire around and on the lift before flames spread to a natural gas line.
Firefighters used foam to control the natural gas fire, KOMO reported.
An apartment complex was evacuated after firefighters detected a natural gas reading, according to David Cuerpo, Seattle Fire Department public information officer.
Firefighters were unable to continue the rescue until Seattle City Light crews showed up to deenergize the power line. The man remained on the rig for two hours.
"Once the energy lines were deenergized, and it was safe for us to operate. We used an aerial ladder to go up to where that lift operator was. And, we safely escorted him down that ladder."
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Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.