Woman rescued after plunging from 14th-floor trash chute in Hackensack high-rise
An investigation quickly revealed that she had plunged to the area of the 3rd or 4th floor.
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A woman is in the care of emergency medical services after falling multiple stories inside an apartment building's trash chute Sunday afternoon, triggering a massive technical rescue operation.
At approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday the Hackensack Fire Department was alerted to a 911 call. The caller reported that a woman had entered the 14th-floor trash chute of 150 Main St., a multi-story residential apartment building, and had fallen to an unknown location inside.
The Hackensack Fire Department’s Second Platoon rushed to the scene. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, commanders transmitted an "all hands working" assignment for a technical rescue, bringing additional specialized resources into the city. Personnel from the Hackensack Police Department and emergency medical crews from Hackensack University Medical Center also responded to assist.
Initially, emergency workers could not locate the woman inside the structure. An investigation quickly revealed that she had plunged to the area of the 3rd or 4th floor, where she became tightly trapped in the chute beneath backed-up trash.
Firefighters immediately launched a multi-pronged extrication strategy. While some crews prepared for a potential high-angle rope rescue or a tactical wall breach, other teams used power saws to cut away panels from the trash chute’s discharge section on the side of the building.
Working methodically, crews continuously cleared piles of debris from the chute until they finally reached the woman, pulling her out feet-first. She was immediately turned over to medical crews for evaluation and treatment.
The grueling rescue took a toll on responders. One Hackensack firefighter suffered an arm injury during the operation and was transported to a hospital. Due to the hazardous nature of the environment, extensive decontamination was required for all personnel and equipment involved in the rescue.
