Last workday, Truck 14, Rescue 14, Engine 14 and Truck 9 rescued a man who was 50 feet up a tree. I will not give the details, but let me just say that this person had no business climbing this tree with a chain saw, intending to top it. When he reached about 50 feet, fear must have set in and he began yelling for help.

Truck 14 was dispatched priority three, which means no lights or sirens. On their arrival, they confirmed that the person was way up in a tall tree. The tree was in the backyard of the residence, so use of the aerial ladder was ruled out. The officer on Truck 14 then called for additional help from Station 14, as well as Truck 9, which carries one of the department’s longest ground ladders (a 45-footer).

Once the ladder reached the scene and was raised, a firefighter ascended the ladder. The ladder did not reach the height where the man was, so a firefighter had to climb high enough to rig a change-of-direction pulley above the victim. Once the rigging was in place, the man was lowered to the ground via a rope, while the firefighter descended the ladder alongside of him.

These calls happen very infrequently, but I can tell you with great assurance that the firefighters on that scene knew what to do. Rope skills helped in this situation, and these guys are the best in the business. The Technical Rescue Team members recently did regional training at the Richmond Coliseum, where advanced rope skills were needed to accomplish the scenarios.

Another opportunity to utilize advanced rope knowledge came on a recent dive team drill. Other than being 50 feet in the air, for the crews involved, the rigging was as easy as pulling a hoseline or throwing a ladder because they were prepared.

I will continue to be amazed at the unbelievable situations that people can get themselves into, whether intentionally or not. The one thing that I will never be surprised by is the fact that a group of firefighters can always figure out how to get people out of the messes that they get themselves into.