San Francisco Firefighters Rescue Window Washers

Crews saved the two workers after their rig became stuck outside the 10th floor of the Millennium Tower, San Francisco's sixth-tallest building.

By Alix Martichoux

Source San Francisco Chronicle

July 18, 2019

San Francisco firefighters rescued two window washers Wednesday after their rig became stuck outside the 10th floor of the Millennium Tower.

The San Francisco Fire Department was called out to rescue a pair of window washers who were left hanging outside the 10th floor of Millennium Tower, the infamously tilted building at 301 Mission St., Wednesday afternoon.

Officials were asking people to avoid the area during the rescue efforts.

Firefighters confirmed both window washers were not injured.

Video of the rescue effort shared by the Fire Department shows a ladder being lifted toward the hanging window washing platform.

One of the men who was reportedly rescued told KPIX that they became trapped after the motor stopped working on the window-washing rig. The two workers apparently tried to fix the motor, but couldn't, eventually requiring rescue from SFFD after about four hours. The man said the experience was "crazy."

The Millennium Tower is San Francisco's sixth-tallest building. The 58-story skyscraper has sunk about 18 inches since it first opened in 2009, resulting in cracks in the walls in some places.

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