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Worker who fell into tank at Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility rescued

Man falls into giant tank at wastewater treatment plant

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Team Wednesday raised a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Team Wednesday raised a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal Fire Department crews, with assistance from neighboring agencies, rescued a 36-year-old man who had fallen into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility on Wednesday. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal Fire Department crews, with assistance from neighboring agencies, rescued a 36-year-old man who had fallen into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility on Wednesday. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Using cables and ropes, a rescue team Wednesday was able to raise a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility from the tank floor to the roof level. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Using cables and ropes, a rescue team Wednesday was able to raise a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility from the tank floor to the roof level. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Using cables and ropes, a rescue team Wednesday was able to raise a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility from the tank floor to the roof level. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Using cables and ropes, a rescue team Wednesday was able to raise a man who had fallen about 25 feet into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility from the tank floor to the roof level. (Photo contributed by the Vancouver Fire Department)

Camas-Washougal Fire Department crews on Wednesday rescued a 36-year-old man who had fallen into a tank at the Washougal Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The tank was under construction when the man, an employee for a private contractor working on the site, fell in, according to a news release from the Vancouver Fire Department.

First responders quickly realized specialized rescue resources would be needed and called for assistance from the Southwest Washington Region 4 Technical Rescue Team, which draws from several fire departments, including Vancouver’s.

Crews monitored the air, secured access to the tank and provided medical care to the injured man while waiting for the rescue team.

Using cables and ropes, the team was able to raise the man about 25 feet from the tank floor to the roof level.

A second rope system then lowered the man down a stairway to a waiting ambulance, where he was taken to a nearby hospital.

Responding agencies also included the Vancouver Fire Department, Clark County Fire District 6, Clark County Fire District 3 and Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue

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