High-Stakes Technical Rescue: Hackensack Firefighters Save Woman Trapped in 14th-Floor Trash Chute
photos courtesy of the City of Hackensack Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, What started as a routine Sunday afternoon quickly turned into a heart-pounding, high-stakes technical rescue operation in downtown Hackensack, New Jersey.
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 7th, the City of Hackensack Fire Department responded to an unbelievable 911 emergency call at 150 Main Street. A woman had reportedly entered the building’s 14th-floor trash chute and plunged down the narrow shafts to an unknown location inside the high-rise structure.
1. The Search: Locating a Victim Trapped in Debris
Under the command of Deputy Chief J. Derevyanik, the Hackensack Fire Department’s Second Platoon skipped no time transmitting an “all hands working” assignment. The unique complexity of the situation required an elite technical rescue response, bringing extra first responder resources into the scene from across the city.
Initially, rescue crews could not pinpoint where the woman was lodged within the multi-story chute system. Following a rapid structural investigation, emergency workers discovered a terrifying reality:
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The Location: The woman had fallen roughly 10 stories, becoming wedged around the 3rd or 4th floor.
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The Complication: She was completely trapped and buried beneath massive amounts of backed-up building trash.
2. Saws, Ropes, and Wall Breaches: The Race Against Time
With the victim located, rescue teams immediately went to work on a multi-pronged extrication plan. While certain crews prepared for high-angle rope operations or a full structural wall breach, others utilized power saws to aggressively slice away panels from the trash chute’s main discharge area.
In a grueling race against the clock, firefighters manually cleared layers of compacted garbage out of the way.
Just 28 minutes after the initial dispatch, crews successfully pulled the woman out of the chute feet-first. She was immediately transferred to waiting emergency medical services (EMS) crews from Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).
3. The Aftermath and Inter-Agency Support
The intense rescue operation required an immense amount of local teamwork. The Hackensack Police Department and HUMC medical staff assisted on-site, while mutual aid fire companies filled in to provide emergency coverage for the rest of the city.
The hazardous environment took a minor toll on the rescue team:
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First Responder Injury: One Hackensack firefighter sustained an arm injury during the extraction and was transported to HUMC for evaluation.
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Decontamination Protocol: Due to the severe conditions inside the waste system, a full decontamination (decon) process was required for all personnel and equipment involved on the scene.
Thanks to the rapid coordination of Hackensack Fire Fighters IAFF Local 2081 and Hackensack Fire Officers IAFF Local 3172, a highly volatile situation was resolved with a life saved.
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