BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD - Shortly after 6:00 P.M. on Monday, May 10th, the Pikesville Vol. Fire Company’s Confined Space Team was alerted with other Baltimore County Fire Department westside units and the specialized BCoFD Hazmat and Urban Search and Rescue teams for a reported worker trapped in a trench in the 900 block of St. Agnes Lane in the Gwynn Oak area (Rescue Box 13-14).

First-arriving units from BCoFD Station 13 confirmed that there was a large hole in front of a row of homes, approximately 30-feet long, 15-feet wide and 7-feet deep, and a worker was inside, trapped by his legs.

Battalion Chief 24 arrived, assumed command, and shortly thereafter PVFC’s Heavy Rescue Squad 322 and Tower 323 arrived with multiple specially-trained confined space rescue personnel. Firefighters from Arbutus Vol. Fire Company Squad 354 assisted PVFC crews with pulling equipment off the Squad to prepare for extrication, and the Tower crew was ordered to set up a hauling system.

As firefighters were preparing to shore-up the hole and extricate the victim, he was able to free himself and climb up a ladder to safety, where he was evaluated by EMS personnel.