Date: Fri May  9 16:09:37 2008
Subject: High Angle Rescue 
From: Fire PIO

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             CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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    Two workers were caulking around the windows of Bankers
Hall when their swing stage developed mechanical problems and
stopped working. The Calgary Fire Department responded its
High Angle Rescue Team to 855 2 Street S.W at approximately
11:30 to remove the two workers. 

   A quick assessment by the firefighters and a plan was
devised. The plan was to send one rescuer over the edge to
the suspended workers 20 feet below. Once the rescuer made
contact, he secured each worker individually and the rest of
the team brought the one worker and rescuer back up to the
top of the building. This process was then duplicated for the
second worker. Neither of the workers was in distress.

   The workers were suspended up on the 49th floor and The
Fire Department closed down 8th Avenue to all foot and
vehicle traffic until the rescue was complete. Fire
Department Battalion Chief Paul Gough stated "the rescue was
textbook" and commended his crews. The two workers were
assessed by EMS as a precaution. The rescue took 35 to 40
minutes to execute. The swing stage was secured by fire
personnel until it could be removed by the company at a later
time.

 -30-


Public Contact Information:

Jeff Budai
Public Information Officer
264-1022

Public Email Contact: 

    3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca

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