Mobile Fire-Rescue Department Makes Rescue from RSA Tower

Mobile, Ala. — Crews from Mobile Fire-Rescue Department made a rescue of a window washer who was stuck on the side of the RSA Battle House Tower more than 450 feet above downtown Mobile, Alabama, Monday afternoon, July 29, 2024.

The man was washing windows when he said his descender got stuck. He was unable to make progress downward or upward, so he and a co-worker called 911. The man said he wasn’t hurt and was not in danger of falling.

Mobile Fire-Rescue Department dispatched several units to the call, including District 1 Chief, Engine 3, Truck 4 and Rescue 3, from Central Station, Engine 8 and Technical Rescue 8 from Melton Station, and Truck 17, Heavy Rescue 25 and Engine 12 from Crichton Station, to include rescue technicians trained in high-angle rescues.

Personnel from MFRD set up a rope system on a small roof on the 35th floor. A rescuer was lowered down to a small roof below on the 33rd floor, and then down further to the worker more than one story below that. Once he reached the victim, the man’s harness was attached to the MFRD rope system.

Rescuers on the 35th floor then used a pulley system to lift him. The system allowed a haul team of several people to bring the man up and over the edge onto the 33rd floor roof. Once he was on that roof, he was able to walk into the building through an open window. Paramedics evaluated the man, who was uninjured. No MFRD personnel were injured in the incident.

“It worked like clockwork, it was beautiful,” District 1 Chief Brandon Jackson said of the rescue. “Everybody walked away and went home safely.”