Baltimore Window Washer Rescue : Update

Injured window washer rescued from 10th floor of Towson building: Baltimore County firefighters and emergency medical responders on Thursday rescued an injured window washer who was dangling outside the 10th floor at Edenwald, a senior residential complex on Southerly Road, across from the Towson Town Center Mall. The window washer — who officials did not name — sustained “serious  but not life-threatening injuries," said Elise Armacost, spokeswoman for the Baltimore County Fire Department. He was taken by ground transport to Maryland Shock Trauma. A call came in at 12:18 p.m. requesting a “high angle rescue” response because a window washer was trapped, according to Armacost. “He was lowering himself from the roof to wash the windows using a rope and harness system," she said. "Something went awry. Instead of lowering him slowly down, it dropped suddenly and he banged himself against the building." As media helicopters hovered above, the area was surrounded by law enforcement and rescue vehicles. Ten-year Towson resident Virginia Griffin, who lives in the adjacent complex, said she didn't know what was happening. “I looked around and saw 18,000 police vehicles," she said. "I didn't know if some pour soul jumped." From yesterdays story.

Towson window washer taken to Shock Trauma after 10th story accident: A window washer at Edenwald Retirement Community in Towson was sent to shock trauma after sustaining injuries from an accident on the 10th story of the building Thursday afternoon. Baltimore County Fire Department crews found the window washer on the side of the high-rise, who had been dangling from his harness for close to an hour, according to BCFD spokeswoman Elise Armacost. “Apparently he was trying to lower himself from the roof and something went awry and he knocked himself against the outside wall and suffered minor injury,” she said.

BCFD dispatched a number of units to aid in the recovery of the victim. A specialized rescue team was sent to the roof, where officers were lowered down to the victim where he was secured and lowered to a fire engine platform. The victim’s name has not yet been released, and Armacost said she was unsure of what company Edenwald uses for window washing.

The victim injury level was considered Priority 2. According to Armacost, he was sent to Shock Trauma because of the circumstances of the type of rescue, not because of life-threatening injuries. She said it was wise for the victim to be sent to Shock Trauma. The extent of the injuries are currently unknown. BCFD fire specialist Chris Hale was the specialist responsible for securing the victim and helped retrieve him from the 10th floor. He said he has had experience in helicopter rescues but had never experienced this type of building window rescue. “This was a lot more safe than a helicopter rescue,” he said.

The retirement community was not evacuated but a number of community residents could be seen observing the scene from outside of the building and from their apartment balconies. Access into the 800 Southerly Road building was blocked-off during the incident. “I didn’t know at first what had happened until I saw everything what was going on outside. When I looked out and I didn’t know what the hell was going on, I saw these fire engines and ambulances … I didn’t know what had happened. So I went out in the hallways and asked to find out,” Edenwald resident Q.D. Thompson, 90, said. ”Naturally I was very much concerned about his condition and I guess what it entered in my mind at first was how in the hell could such a thing have happened when he was wearing so much safety gear.”

Baltimore Window Cleaner Rescue

Firefighters Rescue Window Washer Trapped Outside 10th Floor of Towson Building: Baltimore County firefighters rescued a window washer who was trapped dangling in his harness for nearly an hour outside the 10th floor of a high-rise building near the Towson Town Center Mall.

The window washer was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma to be treated for injuries. Fire officials did not identify the window washer and did not say what type of injuries he suffered.

Fire officials received the 911 call at 12:18 p.m. and rescued him at 1:10 p.m. An advanced tactical rescue team from the Texas fire station helped with the rescue. One rescuer rappelled from the building's roof while another firefigther attempted to assist from a window near the window washer. Other rescuers ascended to the trapped man in a basket affixed to the end of a fire truck's ladder.

A window washer was trapped Thursday outside an assisted living facility at 800 Southerly Road.

A window washer hangs outside a window at 800 Southerly Road, an assisted living facility for the elderly. Residents on the left watch the window washer on the right.

The window washer, who appeared to be concious, was placed in the basket and returned to the ground. He was then placed on a strecther and taken away by an ambulance to Maryland Shock Trauma, officials said. The fire department issued this notification at 12:38 p.m. that fire officials are "on the scene of a high-rise tactical rescue at 800 Southerly Road" in Towson.

Shortly after 1 p.m. firefighters rescued the window washer, whose identity is not yet known. The original notification from the fire department from spokeswoman Elise Armacost stated: "Preliminary reports say a window washer in a harness is trapped outside the 10th floor. Advanced tactical rescue personnel are en route."

Edenwald, a luxury assisted-living community for seniors, is located at 800 Southerly Road. The set of high-rise buildings just across the street from Towson Town Mall provides amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, pub, lounge, chapel, putting green, and air-conditioned walking track.

Baltimore County firefighters rescue a window washer who had been trapped outside the 10th floor of a Towson building.