September 14, 2011

12:01 AM

Firefighters from Portland Fire and Rescue Station 3 responded at 9:29 this evening to reports of a male in his mid-thirties who fell from the chimney of Chapman Elementary School. Upon arrival, Engine Company 3 immediately requested an aerial apparatus to facilitate rescue of the patient from the first story roof.

The man, who was on a first date, attempted to climb the chimney by scaling a support cable. Chapman Elementary, located at Northwest 23rd and Marshall, often draws large crowds who gather to watch Swifts, a type of bird, fly into the chimney during the evening hours. Witnesses on scene say that the man fell approximately 20'. One person came to the aid of the patient and assisted fire crews throughout the incident.

Firefighters cross trained as paramedics stabilized the patient, who suffered traumatic injuries in the fall, before packaging the man into a rescue litter and carrying him down the aerial ladder. The patient was transported to Emanuel Hospital with life-threatening injuries. One firefighter/paramedic supported the ambulance crew during transport.

A total of eight firefighters on two apparatus responded to this call.

 Portland Fire & Rescue

 We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

 September 14, 2011

 

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