“Rope-and-basket” rescue brings Graceville man to safety

By Kate McCardell Kern
Published: July 1, 2008

A rope-and-basket rescue brought a Graceville man safely down to the ground Tuesday afternoon after he became injured on top of a sawdust silo.
The incident took place at Rex Lumber Company, when Rex Lumber employee Arencio Portes tripped on top of a green saw dust silo and received a compound fracture to his left leg, according to Gail Allen, Rex Lumber’s safety director.
Jackson County Fire Rescue and Graceville Police Department arrived on scene and treated Portes’ leg on top of the silo, which stands about 75 feet high, according to Dothan Fire Department public information officer Chris Etheredge.
Then, said Etheredge, Dothan Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue A Squad used a lowering system of ropes and a basket,or “sked,” to lower Portes to the ground.
“They did a great job of setting up the system on the roof and using safeties on the ground to ensure he came down successfully,” said Etheredge.
He said the process of setting up the rope rescue system and getting Portes to the ground took a little under one hour.
He was transported to Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan for further treatment.