Another Rescue Of Window Washers From Oakland High Rise

The first of two window washers is slowly pulled up the side of 1111 Broadway building in downtown Oakland, Calif., by Oakland firefighters after their platform got stuck on the 19th floor on Thursday.

Crews rescue two window washers from Oakland high-rise: Oakland paramedic and firefighter Brian Fukuhara isn't fond of heights, but it didn't stop him from rappelling down the side of a high-rise building Thursday morning to rescue two window washers trapped some 200 feet above downtown Oakland. "I'm a little afraid of heights," Fukuhara said.

The two window washers with Elite Window Washing Company, had been stranded outside the 19th floor of the high rise at 1111 Broadway for nearly two hours before employees inside realized they were in trouble and called for help about 10:45 a.m.

The two men, who weren't available for interview after the rescue, thought they could get their platform to work again, but one of the motors was broken and getting it to move up or down was impossible, officials said. The window washers were on the Broadway side of the 24-story building, getting baked by Thursday's warm temperatures. Luckily there were no strong winds.

While firefighters were securing equipment on the roof, Fukuhara, who joked that he "half volunteered and half I was assigned," put on a harness and began rappelling down about 11:15 a.m. for what firefighters call a high-angle rescue. He said the two men were in good spirits but a little dehydrated when he reached them, about 50 feet below the roof. They were very calm, and one of them who had been washing windows at the building for more than six years was "clearly was comfortable with heights," Fukuhara said.

Both men had extra harnesses placed on them. One was hoisted to the roof at about 11:30 a.m. and the other about five minutes later, to the applause and cheers of hundreds gathered in the street below. Fukuhara was pulled back up to the roof by 11:50 a.m. He said that because of the potential danger, he did have "a little bit of anxiety and stress, but that's what you train for."

The department's Urban Search and Rescue team trains to make sure such operations are carried out safely and in a timely manner, said Fukuhara, who has four years with the Oakland department and five years of experience with other agencies. "It feels good. We're here to do a job safe and fast," he added. Fukuhara said the window washers said they were "very thankful and still had time for (their) lunch break."

Oakland Fire Battalion Chief Coy Justice said the rescue team has hauled people up steep hillsides, but he could not recall a rescue like Thursday's. He said he had complete confidence in them. "They are well-trained and the best in the business. I'm glad to have them." Broadway was closed in both direction between 11th and 12th streets during the rescue. The front entrance to the building was also closed but could be accessed through side and rear doors.

Window Washers Hand Crank Swing Stage Rescue

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As news helicopters buzzed overhead, one of the two window washers passed time by taking photos on his cellphone. Down below, Urban Search & Rescue crews from the Orange County Fire Authority devised a plan to get the men safely off the disabled platform, which became stuck when a motor failed.

Window Washers Rescued From Side of High-Rise Building - The workers used a hand crank to hoist the platform on which they were working to the top of the 19-floor building: Two workers washing windows on the side of an Irvine high-rise building were stuck for several hours before members of an urban search and rescue team helped bring them to safety.

The window washers were working on a metal platform suspended by cables from the rooftop at 4 Park Plaza, an office building north of the 405 Freeway near Jamboree Road. The workers, who were wearing body harnesses, were not injured, according to Orange County Fire Authority officials.

Two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine look down after they became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown Wednesday morning.

About 35 members of the department responded to the 19-floor building after the workers became stuck 225 feet off the ground at about 9:30 a.m. By mid-day, crew members secured in harnesses on the rooftop lowered cables that were attached to the platform, called a "swing stage."

The cables were attached to cranks -- a hand-operated crank on one side, a motorized device on the other -- that allowed the workers to slowly bring the "swing stage" to the roof. The workers took turns using the manual crank as they tired. "The sun was beating on them, it's hot," said Capt. Steve Concialdi, of the Orange County Fire Authority. The workers were helped from the platform to the rooftop just before 1 p.m.

Window Washers Rescued Hanging Near 17th Floor of Irvine High-Rise: A pair of window washers were stuck for about three hours Wednesday when their platform malfunctioned near the 17th floor of an Irvine high-rise, but they were eventually lifted safely back to the building’s roof. The call for help came at 9:30 a.m. at the 19-story office building at 4 Park Plaza, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. At about noon, firefighters began raising the platform toward the roof using a mechanical device outfitted with two engines.

Office workers look out their windows as two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown Wednesday morning.

Firefighters took turns hand-cranking the workers up the side of the building, Concialdi said. The workers were safely on the roof just before 1 p.m., according to Mike Lyster, spokesman for The Irvine Co., which owns the building. “The pizza (the company ordered) just arrived, so what good timing,” Lyster said.

The window washers work for Newport Window Maintenance, which services the building for The Irvine Co. about three times a year, Concialdi said. The workers were about 225 feet off the ground, Concialdi said. The building is 260 feet high, Lyster said. The workers were going from top to bottom cleaning the windows, Lyster said. It takes about four days to clean the windows on a building that size, he said.

Two window washers cleaning the windows at the Jamboree Center #4 Park Plaza building in Irvine were the center of attention Wednesday morning as they became stuck on the 17th floor when their swing stage had a mechanical breakdown. The Orange County Fire Authority responded and after nearly three hours their platform was hoisted back to the top of the building.

2 Window-Washers Rescued After Being Stuck Outside 17th Floor of Irvine Building:  Firefighters rescued two window-washers who were stuck for hours around the 17th floor of an office building in Irvine Wednesday. The call came in around 9:30 a.m. that the window washers were stuck outside 4 Park Plaza, which is a 19-story building that was built in 1991, according to tweets from the Orange County Fire Authority.

The workers were unable to move the platform due to a mechanical failure on one side of the lift, Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. About 35 firefighters arrived at the scene, including 16 “highly qualified” Urban search-and-rescue firefighters, the Fire Authority tweeted. Rescuers secured the workers in harnesses before replacing a cable that would allow the platform to be brought to the top of the building.

The workers had to turn a hand crank on one side of the platform while using a motor on the other side to move the lift “inch by inch,” Concialdi said. “The safety of the two workers and our firefighters was paramount, so we had to go slow,” Concialdi said. Firefighters lowered water down to the workers, who were out in the sun for several hours. Just before 1 p.m., the workers’ platform was raised to the level of the building’s roof and rescuers helped the pair to safety.