The Kris Kringle Incident
Santa Clause He Wasn’t; West Covina and L.A. County
Firefighters Team Up to Rescue Man Trapped in Chimney
Larry Collins
No matter how many times we see fire departments across the U.S. called out to
rescue some wayward person trapped in chimneys, it seems the temptation is too much
for some people to resist. Apparently the word is not getting out that sliding down the
chimney is not a recommended way to enter homes, regardless of whether the person’s
intent is innocent or otherwise (and firefighters have seen both examples, from
innocent ones where the person simply lost his keys and figured it was an alternate way
into his own home, to those with more nefarious reasons for entering the home or
business of another person).
On August 26, 2007, the West Covina (California) Fire Department received an
early morning 9-1-1 call reporting a man trapped in a pre-cast concrete chimney in a
single story residence. The residents reported they had been awakened by calls for
help. When they investigated, they found the sound was emanating from their
fireplace. Sure enough, looking up the flue, firefighters spotted a pair of legs.
Size Up and Initial Rescue Efforts
West Covina Fire Department (WCFD) Engine 4 and Rescue Ambulance 4
arrived to find a 34 year old male trapped 10’ down from the top of the chimney’s
narrow opening. He had apparently been there for several hours at that point, raising
the potential for crush syndrome and other medical problems that can cause serious
problems for people trapped and compressed for long periods of time. Also, he was
wedged just above the flue baffle of the fireplace with one arm trapped between his
body and the chimney wall and the other arm stuck above his head. Long periods of
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time trapped in such a “stretched” position can result in positional respiratory
complications that can inhibit a victim’s ability to expand his chest wall to breathe. So
even though entrapment in fireplaces is sometimes associated with an element of
bemusement by the public and news media, for the fire department it’s a serious rescue
and EMS problem that requires a timely solution, because patients have died under
exactly these conditions. Engine 4 requested the response of WCFD Truck 2 and the
Battalion Chief.
WCFD firefighters simultaneously checked the fireplace for possible access
from below and accessed the top of the chimney via a ladder. In the living room, they
opened up a wall hoping to gain access to the man, but were confronted by the thick
pre-cast concrete chimney. Initial attempts to put a hole in the chimney from below
with sledgehammers and other hand tools were rebuffed because of the thickness and
hardness of the concrete (this is considered a good thing in the event of earthquakes,
which traditionally have been a source of damage and death in California when non-
reinforced masonry chimneys collapsed during the shaking…it’s one reason for the
growing popularity of pre-cast concrete chimneys).
Initial attempts to access the man from the top of the chimney were equally
complicated by the fact that the man was about 10 feet down, and the space in which he
was trapped was extremely narrow (just barely enough room for a man to get himself
wedged). WCFD firefighter/paramedics could not even attempt to establish
intravenous lines or any other treatment except lowering a high-flow oxygen mask to
the patient. Truck 2 had a dry-cut masonry blade saw, but the chimney’s concrete
thickness exceeded its plunge-cutting depth.
The Incident Commander conferred with the other officers and determined that
specialized concrete-cutting and other equipment was needed, and he requested a
mutual aid response of LACoFD USAR Task Force 103 (USRTF103), located in Pico
Rivera. LACoFD’s Command and Control dispatched Task Force 103 at 5:31 a.m.
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Rescue Plan Established
When USRTF103 arrived, the captains mounted the roof with WCFD personnel
to visually assess the man’s predicament. His position with one arm up and one arm
pinned at his side wasn’t encouraging because it left only left only one wrist available
in case they chose eventually to raise him using rescue wristlets. The patient’s position
10 feet down the chimney was problematic because the intense friction of trying too
raise him in that tight space and for that distance might in itself further injure him.
Reducing the distance (by lopping off or sectioning the top of the fireplace) would be
helpful.
The man seemed to be struggling to get full breaths of air, a situation that
potentially could further deteriorate at any moment if he slipped further down (which
might have the effect of further constricting his chest wall and causing mechanical
asphyxiation).
Having been trapped in a constricted space for hours, this patient was
vulnerable to developing crush syndrome, which kills many victims after they have
been successfully rescued from collapsed buildings and other physical entrapment
situations. One of the most basic preventive treatments (dual IV’s and intravenous
infusion to keep the patient hydrated and maintain adequate perfusion and blood
volume to prevent concentrations of toxins from causing lethal effects after being freed
from the entrapment) was not possible until they could reach at least one arm or leg.
Finally, protecting the man’s airway was a concern because of the potential for
concrete dust and debris to impact the space in which he was trapped. A filter mask
was immediately lowered to him and placed over the oxygen mask (it was also
important to maintain high oxygen flow to counteract the other effects of entrapment),
with consideration of lowering a SABA (supplied air breathing apparatus) mask if it
became necessary. A CMC Rapid Intervention Strap was also lowered to the man,
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which allowed him to grasp the loop in his upper hand for support and to reduce the
pressure somewhat by pulling on it.
With that assessment completed, the WCFD chief and all the captains agreed on
a rescue plan that would concentrate on removing the victim by working from the top,
similar in some ways to a deep shaft rescue (albeit in this case the shaft had a fresh air
opening at the bottom), with several backup plans.
It was agreed that the fastest and safest rescue would be to use a special saw to
carefully slice the upper chimney into manageable sections that could be safely
removed (USAR TF103 has a variety of jackhammers including “90-pounders” that
would have readily disintegrated the chimney, but that approach would have sprayed
the victim with debris, and its wasn’t practical to provide him with protection from big
chunks of concrete).
At the same time, Truck 2’s aerial ladder would be positioned as a high point
anchor above the chimney to support the use of equipment and eventually to raise the
man using rescue wristlets attached to a rope system fed through a pulley suspended
beneath the ladder (a standard Rescue Systems I skill). After packaging the victim, that
same system could be attached to a rescue litter that would allow firefighters to safely
lower the man to the ground.
A rescue litter would be pre-positioned on the roof with C-spine and other
equipment, and a gurney was positioned on the ground to receive it once the lowering
operation was started. Rescue Ambulance 4’s firefighter/paramedics were assigned as
the Medical Group, with notification to the closest trauma center through the base
hospital due to the nature of the patient’s predicament.
It was a simple plan, but naturally there were a few complications (for example,
operating concrete-cutting saws and jackhammers chest-high on a sloped tile roof),
each of which was overcome in quick succession. Backup plans were also agreed
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upon, including the option of cutting a “window” in the center section of the chimney
if for some reason the first approach (from the top) proved impractical, or working
from the bottom if necessary.
Rescue Operations Proceed
While saws, electric jackhammer, ventilation fan, and other equipment were
being transferred up ground ladders to the roof, Truck 2’s aerial was repositioned over
the chimney. The flood lights at the tip of the aerial also provided illumination inside
the chimney. A ladder sling was used to suspend a pulley beneath the aerial, and with
a rope the pulley it became a change-of direction line from which the firefighters could
suspend the saw and jackhammer for above-the-shoulder cutting operations. Later it
would be used to lower the victim off the roof.
A confined space rescue ventilation fan was secured on the roof, with the
tubing placed through the top of the chimney to ensure a supply of fresh air for the
victim.
A 16-inch partner K1200 saw with corresponding masonry blade was used to
make the initial full-depth cuts, with a garden hose and nozzle providing a small stream
of water to cool the blade and reduce the dust. A concrete-cutting chain saw was
waiting in reserve, as well as USRTF103’s Stanley rescue saw system.
The first cuts were made horizontally several feet above the victim’s head, with
a USRTF103 captain observing to observe the victim from the top. The USAR
firefighter operating the saw was belayed by a WCFD firefighter using a cinch strap
while he operated near the edge of the sloped roof. Penny nails there inserted into the
cut periodically to reduce pressure on the saw blade as it progressed about 2/3 of the
way around the chimney’s perimeter.
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Then vertical cuts were made to “section” a manageable-sized corner of the
fireplace. Although the saw blade made full-depth cuts in most places, the electric
jackhammer was required to finish the job by vibrating the remaining uncut sections
loose. This allowed firefighters to carefully remove part of a corner of the fireplace
and (after clearing the patio below, which was protected with cardboard laid out by
BC16), to slide the 100 pound-plus section off the roof.
The patient was double-checked and the ventilation ducting repositioned to
allow for the other cuts. These cuts were completed and the second section was
removed. Now the victim was quite a bit more accessible to rescuers, who could reach
in and grasp his hand and install a wristlet. Seeing daylight, the man responded with
renewed vigor and began wriggling in an attempt to move up. This allowed the
firefighters to use the change-of-direction pulley and rope to begin maneuvering him
upward slightly. Soon they had him by both arms and were pulling him out of the
now-cross-cut section of chimney.
The man was removed from the chimney and placed on a backboard, secured,
and moved into the rescue litter. That, in turn, was attached to the rope system, and the
litter was lowered right onto the gurney. The rescue was completed at 7:10 a.m., and
the man was quickly evaluated, treated for possible crush syndrome as mentioned
earlier as a precaution, and transported to Queen of the Valley Hospital in West
Covina.
At the time of this writing, the patient was in custody of the West Covina Police
Department for on-going investigation.
Conclusion
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It’s a sign of strong bonds between multiple agencies working for the public good
when specialized resources can be shared as in this incident. As in most technical rescue
operations, adaptability was a key component to a successful conclusion. The West
Covina Fire Department set the stage for effective operations by conducting a thorough
size up, establishing command, determining that a technical rescue response was
required, and using available tools and methods to stabilize the scene. LACoFD
firefighters played a supporting role in this unified effort, with Battalion 16 operating as
an effective and helpful agency representative.
The residents and neighbors later commented positively on the professionalism
and efficiency of the operation, and were appreciative of active efforts to minimize
damage to the home throughout the incident.
End
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