CA FFs Rescue Woman Stuck Upside Down in Chimney

A 30-year-old woman was stuck upside down in a chimney in San Diego's Paradise Hills neighborhood for about an hour Sunday until fire crews were able to rescue her, authorities said.

The incident unfolded about 5 p.m. after the woman's mother summoned police to a home on Alleghany Street west of Reo Drive. She said her daughter was causing a disturbance and then stated that her daughter had crawled into the chimney, police said.

Inside the chimney the woman got stuck upside down. Her head ended up about 6 feet off the ground and her feet were about 8 to 10 feet from the top of the chimney, San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Tommy Charpentier told OnScene TV.

Fire crews climbed onto the roof and used a tripod equipped with ropes to hoist the woman out. Then they carried her onto a basket, which was placed on a ladder and lowered to the ground. The rescue took at least a half-hour.

Charpentier said crews — which included firefighters from National City and Chula Vista — wanted to work quickly to try to ensure the woman's condition wouldn't deteriorate, but they also had to work carefully to not harm her. The woman was taken to a hospital, although the extent of her injuries was unknown.

Police said the woman was detained and expected to be placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

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