‘The wind is hitting us hard’: 911 audio details window washers’ rescue 500 feet above Bellevue

Newly released 911 audio captures a terrifying moment more than 500 feet above Bellevue as two window washers were trapped on a scaffold on the 32nd floor when the wind picked up last Friday, according to KIRO 7.

“The wind is hitting us hard, and we are holding on, but we need to get rescued,” a window washer said. “I got to go because I need both hands.”

The incident occurred at a building at 555 108th Avenue NE, according to the Bellevue Fire Department (BFD). The Redmond Fire Department assisted in the incident.

“There are two. I repeat, two operators on the window-washing setup, and PD says they are exactly 532 feet up from the ground,” emergency radio traffic said.

A stranger came to the rescue

A nearby worker, Bryan Campfield, was wrapping up work for the day when he reportedly stepped in to help hold the two against the building before more help arrived, according to KOMO News.

“The wind was gusting quite a bit, and I could feel [the building] shaking quite a bit. Easy for me to say as the guy inside, but they were definitely freaking out,” Campfield told KOMO. “That’s when I kind of like reached out and like started helping them. Just because I was on the inside, I had more grip and could kind of hold it against the building, and then they were also both holding against the building, and basically we just sat like that for a while.”

Fire officials step in

More than a dozen rope technicians from both fire departments then lowered the men hundreds of feet to safety, according to KIRO 7.

“Be advised, winds have increased to 38 miles an hour,” emergency personnel noted during dispatch. “Our plan is to lower two rescuers for two pickoffs. We’re going to lower the rescuers and the patients all the way through.”

Fire officials did not have enough space on the roof to set up a raising system, KOMO News reported. The department is trained and fortunate to have the resources for high-rise rescues like this.

Both people were rescued and brought safely to the ground. BFD did not report any serious injuries.

Read more of Regan Gallo-Fenz’s stories here. Submit news tips here.