Firefighters Rescue Window Washers Stuck on 21st-Floor Scaffold
At about 1:10 p.m., the window washers found themselves trapped at the 21st floor level of 290 Broadway, unable to move their platform up and down. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib
Firefighters on Monday afternoon rescued two window washers who were stuck on a scaffold on the 21st floor of 290 Broadway, the Ted Weiss Federal Building.
At about 1:10 p.m., the scaffold jammed and the workers found themselves unable to move their platform up and down, according to FDNY Deputy Chief Dan Donoghue. Twelve FDNY units, with 60 firefighters, responded three minutes later, an FDNY spokeswoman said.
The firefighters secured the scaffold on the 32-story building, using a glass cutter to slice two 21st floor window panes, and dropping ropes to the workers, Donoghue said. The ordeal ended at 1:50 p.m., according to the spokeswoman.
Neither of the workers were injured, according to Donoghue.
Reade Street between Broadway and Elk Street was closed off as firefighters carried out their rescue effort.