By Chris Brock
Watertown Daily Times
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The city fire department’s ladder truck was deployed Monday afternoon to help a worker down from the scaffolding of First Presbyterian Church.
“A gentleman working on the church had a medical emergency and couldn’t get himself out,” said Battalion Chief Tucker Wiley.
The call came in at around 3 p.m. Wiley said that Engine 1 originally responded to it.
“Once they got here, they decided they needed the (ladder) truck,” Wiley said, noting the person who needed help was on the 11th lift of scaffolding.
“It’s a 100-foot ladder truck with a jib on it of probably 15 or 20 feet,” Wiley said. “So we were extended probably 115, 120 feet.”
The victim was alert when brought down. “He was getting better the whole time,” Wiley said. “When we got here, he wasn’t able to get down the steps.”
The church at 403 Washington St. is undergoing a steeple project of about $2.5 million. Scaffolding for the job went up in May. Lupini Construction, Utica, is the contractor.
The base of the sidewalk to the tip of the church steeple measures 300 feet. Weather and age have taken their toll on the steeple, which became apparent more than a year ago when some emergency steps were taken and barricades were put up after decorative elements tumbled off it.
The church is the first house of worship established in Watertown.
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