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Crews Rescue Window Washers Stuck Outside Downtown Oakland High-Rise

OAKLAND (CBS SF) --  Firefighters rescued two window-washers who got stuck on a malfunctioning platform outside of a high-rise in downtown Oakland Thursday morning.

The incident was reported at 10:48 a.m. at 1111 Broadway, a 24-story building located near 11th Street, a fire dispatcher said.

A building security employee who did not want to be named said the men were stuck because of either a motor or cable problem with their platform.

window washer rescued
(Photo courtesy of @NAParish/Twitter)

Two Window Washers Rescued After Being Stuck Outside Downtown Oakland High-Rise

The men were stuck about five floors below the roof of the building. A firefighter rappelled down to the platform from the roof to help in the rescue.

One of the men was pulled up to the roof as of 11:34 a.m. and the other was pulled up seven minutes later. The firefighter was then pulled back up to safety shortly before noon, leaving the platform empty outside the building.

Police shut down Broadway between 11th and 12th streets during the operation. Dozens of people gathered on the street below to watch the rescue and cheered when the men were brought safely up to the roof.

Raw video of the rescue:

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