Snellville, Ga., April 2, 2021) – Firefighters specially trained as high-angle rope rescue technicians successfully rescued a tree cutter from atop an approximate seventy-foot tree Friday evening in Snellville. Crews were called to the scene at 6:52 p.m. to a report of a man stranded as he was topping a tree behind a house on Periwinkle Drive SW.

The first Engine to arrive at the scene began to immediately identify anchor points and established verbal communications with the victim. A neighbor was outside at the time and assisted emergency personnel by translating due to a language barrier. The Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team from Fire Station 24 created a rope system to attach to the uninjured man and lower him safely to the ground. Firefighter-EMT Brian Martin scaled the tree to make physical contact with the victim and prepared him for a controlled descent. Onlookers cheered as the man stood at the base of the tree with firefighters upon reaching the ground around 8:19 p.m.

According to Lieutenant-Paramedic Brant Keiser, this is the kind of scenario that personnel on the technical rescue team often train for, but very rarely get to perform. Battalion-Paramedic Phillip Merck served as the on-scene incident commander and praised the crews for their skill and bravery. Photos available on Facebook and Twitter @GwinnettFire.      

EQUIPMENT AT THE SCENE INCLUDED: 1-Engine, 1-Ladder Truck, 1-Technical Rescue Unit, 1-GSAR Unit, 1-Squad, 1- Battalion Chief and 1-PIO.

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