Wilmington sign rescue frees worker trapped 130 feet up
A maintenance worker was lowered safely after his lift malfunctioned inside a towering gas station sign off Interstate 55.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A Wilmington sign rescue stretched for nearly five hours Tuesday after a maintenance worker became stuck inside a 130-foot gas station sign in Wilmington, Ill., the Wilmington Fire Protection District said.
The worker was doing maintenance on the sign along Lorenzo Road, off Interstate 55, when his lift malfunctioned around 11 a.m., according to the fire district. That left him stranded high above the ground inside the structure.
Firefighters could not reach him with their ladders, the district said. Their ladders extend to a maximum of 100 feet, short of the height needed to get to the worker inside the sign.
How was the worker rescued from the Wilmington gas station sign?
Authorities used a drone to maintain contact with the worker while crews worked out how to reach him, according to the Wilmington Fire Protection District. ABC7 Chicago reported that the man gave a thumbs-up to a news helicopter during the ordeal.
A replacement boom lift was brought from Joliet with an Illinois State Police escort, UPI reported. The equipment was used to bring the worker down safely just before 4 p.m.
The worker declined medical treatment after he reached the ground, the fire district said. Firefighters said he was not seriously hurt and was expected to be OK.
Why ladders were not enough
The rescue came down to height. The sign stood 130 feet tall, while firefighters said their ladders could reach only 100 feet.
That gap meant crews needed taller equipment before they could complete the rescue. The replacement boom lift from Joliet gave responders the reach they needed to lower the worker without reported serious injury.
What officials said happened
- The worker was performing maintenance on a gas station sign in Wilmington, Ill., the Wilmington Fire Protection District said.
- The sign was on Lorenzo Road near Interstate 55, according to the district.
- The worker became stranded after his lift malfunctioned at about 11 a.m.
- Firefighters said their ladders could not reach the 130-foot height.
- A drone helped authorities stay in contact with the worker.
- A replacement boom lift arrived from Joliet under Illinois State Police escort, UPI reported.
- The worker was lowered shortly before 4 p.m. and declined medical treatment, the fire district said.
The Wilmington Fire Protection District shared information about the rescue on Facebook. ABC7 Chicago separately reported the worker’s thumbs-up from the sign during the emergency response.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.