Confined space rescue successful after 20-foot fall at Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility

At about 1:25 p.m. on Wednesday, crews from the Camas-Washougal Fire Department responded to reports of a 36-year-old man who had fallen into a tank under construction at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility. Photo courtesy Vancouver Fire Department

🎧 Technical rescue saves worker from 20-foot fall at Washougal plant

Southwest Washington Region 4 Technical Rescue Team members deployed advanced technical rescue techniques and equipment to safely extricate the patient

At about 1:25 p.m. on Wednesday (April 29), crews from the Camas-Washougal Fire Department (CWFD) responded to reports of a 36-year-old man who had fallen into a tank under construction at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility. The injured man is an employee of a private contractor working on site.

Upon arrival, first responders quickly assessed the situation and recognized the need for specialized rescue resources. The Southwest Washington Region 4 Technical Rescue Team (TRT) was activated to assist. In coordination with a TRT Lead, CWFD personnel initiated air monitoring, secured access to the tank, and began providing medical care to the worker while awaiting the arrival of the rescue team.

TRT members deployed advanced technical rescue techniques and equipment to safely extricate the patient. A cable based vertical haul system was utilized to raise the man approximately 25 feet from the tank floor to the roof level. A second rope system was then established to carefully lower him down a stairway and onto an awaiting ambulance gurney. The patient was transported to a local medical facility in stable condition.

The tank involved in the incident is part of a new construction project being completed by a private contractor. — TRT members deployed advanced technical rescue techniques and equipment to safely extricate the patient. Photo courtesy Vancouver Fire Department

Technical rescue is a specialized discipline within the fire service that involves the application of advanced skills, training, and equipment to safely resolve complex rescue situations. These incidents may include confined space rescues, trench collapses, water emergencies, structural collapses, and rescues involving individuals trapped above or below ground level. This incident required a combination of confined space, high-angle, and low-angle rescue techniques.

The TRT response included personnel from multiple agencies, including Vancouver Fire Department, Clark County Fire District 6, Clark County Fire District 3, and Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue.

The tank involved in the incident is part of a new construction project being completed by a private contractor. The structure measures approximately 150 feet in diameter with a 22-foot interior holding capacity and is designed as a four-cell aerobic digester for biosolid treatment.

Information provided by the Vancouver Fire Department.