On October 6th, a local firefighter was on his way to conduct a class on rope rescue incidents related to hostage negotiations, at the fire and police academy in Mahwah. Ironically, he became involved in a tree rescue, himself.

Steve Alvarez is a career firefighter assigned to Rescue Co. 1 in North Hudson. He is also a Fair Lawn volunteer firefighter. He was on his way to the Mahwah academy when he heard a call for an injured tree trimmer, and he responded to the call.

A tree trimmer was left perilously perched in the air after a cut limb from an oak broke his leg, according to a media report.

Firefighters could not use an aerial ladder due to the location of the tree in the backyard of an Ellington Road home, around 8:30 A.M. The worker was stranded on an unsteady limb about 20 to 30-feet above the ground.

Firefighters assembled ground ladders and rope to effect the rescue. Firefighter Alvarez “climbed and quickly applied a hasty harness,” according to a local police post. The victim was then lowered onto the ground and transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center, in Paterson, for treatment.

Responding first responders that assisted in the rescue came from the Fair Lawn Fire and Police Departments, Rescue Squad, volunteer ambulance squad, plus a tower ladder from Paterson.