Washington Firefighters Rescue Two Window Washers Stranded 532 Feet Above Ground
Rope rescue teams from Bellevue and Redmond brought two window washers to safety after they became stranded on the 39th floor of a Bellevue building.
· AllSeattle
Washington Firefighters Rescue Two Window Washers Stranded 532 Feet Above Ground
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Two window washers were rescued Friday evening after becoming stranded more than 500 feet above the ground on the 39th floor of a building in downtown Bellevue.
The Bellevue Fire Department reported the emergency at approximately 5 p.m. at 555 108th Ave. NE. Firefighters estimated the workers were suspended about 532 feet above street level.
Specialized rope rescue technicians from Bellevue responded to bring the two workers down safely. The Redmond Fire Department also sent firefighters to assist with the operation.
The Bellevue Police Department provided a drone to support the rescue effort. Traffic in the surrounding area was redirected while emergency crews worked at the scene.
Redmond firefighters later shared video showing the height and difficult conditions crews faced during the operation.
“Working in high winds and darkness, crews navigated extremely challenging conditions to bring both individuals to safety,” Redmond firefighters said in a social media post.
Officials have not explained what caused the window washers to become stranded.
The successful rescue highlighted the coordination and specialized training required for high-angle emergency operations.
Source: www.fox13seattle.com