North Carolina Firefighters Rescue Window Washers
Source The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Durham firefighters made a dramatic rescue of four window washers Thursday after they got stuck between the eighth and nine floors outside the new downtown courthouse.
The platform they were on -- called a swing stage -- locked up just before noon as the washers for Sparkle and Shine were cleaning the windows.
Firefighters from the Durham Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team responded, taking the elevator to the roof of the 11-story building under construction at South Mangum and Dillard streets. Using a rope system, they lowered a firefighter and one of the scaffolding company's engineers about 12 feet to the platform.
They determined that a piece of equipment was needed and sent for it, according to Battalion Fire Chief David Elston. Meanwhile, firefighters used ropes and harnesses to raise the washers off the swing stage and onto the roof to safety.
A company engineer from Associated Scaffolding fixed the problem and firefighters lowered the swing stage to the ground.
No one was hurt.
Elston said the call came in to firefighters at 11:49 a.m. and the platform was lowered to the ground at 2:09 p.m.
He said Durham County Emergency Medical Services personnel stood by, and Durham police blocked off Mangum Street at Pettigrew Street to traffic.
"The window washers were very appreciative to get off there," Elston said. "They were pretty spooked when they were stuck."
Elston said firefighters train for similar emergencies all the time, but are seldom required to put that knowledge into practice.
"It's nice sometimes to be able to use what we train for to help somebody," he said. "We were completely confident in being able to get them out safely."
Copyright 2012 - The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
