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Rescue from High-Rise Buildings Introduction
Roof Clutter: No Place for a Helicopter to Land
Traditional Helicopter Rescue: Rappel Down, Winch 'Em Up One at a Time
A skyscaper on fire may act as a chimney; particularly, if someone leaves the door on the roof open. The roof is potentially a very dangerous location. Placing rescue personnel there without means of rapid extraction puts them at unnecessary risk. The Heli-Basket is a new line of rescue equipment for high-rise buildings. The small HB2000 Heli-Basket allows up to 16 persons to be rescued at one time. The HB3000 Heli-Basket can carry 26 persons. More than 34 people can fit into the large HB5000 Heli-Basket. In the paragraphs below we outline how this piece of equipment is to be used.
Insertion of the Rescue Team on the Rooftop
Unhooking the Heli-Basket from
the long-line or cable after it is safely on the roof, allows the helicopter to circle or perform other
functions. Preparation for Helicopter Rescue Power tools, such as the Partner K-12--a 12" circular saw--can cut through steel and concrete and are used to clear antennas and other obstructions on the roof. (Newer saws that are battery-operated present less of a risk than the gasoline engine-powered saws.) The fire-fighters can clear a space on the roof large enough for safe evacuation with the Heli-Basket. If possible, they may be able to clear a landing zone for a helicopter. However, the strength of the roof needs to be considered; in particular, whether it can carry the additional load.
The rescue group will have its own procedures and guidelines for keeping order in the group of people to be evacuated, maintaining radio contact with the helicopter pilot and guiding the pilot during landing of the Heli-Basket, loading people into the basket, and guiding the pilot during lift-off and other functions. Evacuation Heli-Baskets are suitable for emergency rescue operations. However, familiarity with the restrictions under Civil Aviation Rules and/or military regulations and procedures is required. Accessories Optional netting is available to provide additional safety and a sense of security. Useful Links to Other Sites Reviews of High-Rise Fires David Fenton, NYPD, describes how for helicopter rooftop rescue operations an entirely separate
division needs to be established at the landing zone that includes triage, treatment, transport,
safety, and staging. U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA) report on High-Rise Firefighting Operations. Provides technical discussion for fire-fighters, but does not discuss helicopter rescue. Recently updated review of High-Rise Firefighting by Paul Grimwood includes a list of the world's 100 tallest buildings, links to high-rise firefighting manuals, and recommendations for changes after 9/11/01. Case Histories of Helicopter Rescue at High-Rise Fires MGM Grand Hotel Fire in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988. Comprehensive investigation report by Clark County Fire Department. Opening photo shows 5 helicopters in the shuttle operation to and from the rooftop. Nineteen helicopters were used. Bombing of the World Trade Center in New York, 1993. Analysis by U.S. Fire Administration. Includes personal accounts, but does not discuss helicopter rescue. About 50,000 people were evacuated from the twin towers. There were 6 fatalities and more than 1000 injuries. Bombing of the World Trade Center. Comments in the 1993 Congressional Record about Sgt. Timothy Farrell of the NY Police Department, who was lowered by a cable from a helicopter to the roof of the World Trade Center to rescue 8 people. Also, comments about 25 NYPD police officers who rappelled from helicopters to the roof, about clearing obstacles from the roof so that helicopters could land, and about delivering 125 rescue personnel to the roof. Four NYPD helicopters were used. Attack on the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001 Coverage of the fire and collapse of the World Trade Center by The Digital Journalist and American Photo. More than 100 outstanding photos, videos, and text. Photo essay by Time Magazine shows wreckage of the collapsed twin towers. Links to sites covering the WTC Attack by Research Buzz. Aviation International News article discusses how the doors to the roof of the WTC were locked and a previous agreement prohibited police helicopters from landing on the roof. Comprehensive report by FEMA on the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Helicopter Rescue Organizations California Army National Guard Kansas Army National Guard Virginia Army National Guard Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association (USAF Vets) Los Angeles County Fire Department New York Police Department, Aviation Unit Site Map Last Updated on April 4, 2006 by Little Belt Consulting Services |
In 1995 there were 13,000 fires in high-rise buildings in the U.S. (See 
Although there are building codes in some states, such as California, requiring new high-rise buildings to include a heli-pad, many of the older skyscrapers have a "forest" of antennas and other
equipment on the roof. The photo on the right shows 2 antennas, a large sign, and air conditioning equipment on top of the building shown on the left. This "roof clutter" prevents helicopters from landing to rescue people stranded on the roof. However, there is enough room for a Heli-Basket to land.
The traditional technique to place personnel on a rooftop without the helicopter landing is for them to rappel down a rope one at a time; and when it is time to leave, they are winched back up into the helicopter one at a time in a harness, a chair, or a stretcher. Inserting and extracting people this way is a slow process. There are some techniques to speed up the extraction process. The sketch on the right shows a fireman/emergency medical technician riding up with a smoke-inhalation victim. In the military demo on the left 5 soldiers in harness are being extracted together.
To place a Heli-Basket on a rooftop requires a helicopter pilot trained in a technique known as vertical reference flying. The pilot has to carefully monitor the vertical distance to the rooftop as he lands the Heli-Basket. [In the photo to the left note how the man standing on the rooftop casts a shadow. The position of the shadow of the Heli-Basket on the roof is one way the pilot can estimate vertical distance.]
As shown in the photo on the right, the Heli-Basket can deliver a crew of fire-fighters and emergency medical technicians,
together with their equipment, to the roof of a high-rise building. [Rescue from windows or balconies is extremely dangerous, and is not a recommended procedure for the Heli-Basket.] The Heli-Basket is relatively small and thus can land on rooftops cluttered with antennaes and air conditioning equipment that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Some fire-fighters equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) will enter the building where there may be smoke-filled corridors and no light. New versions of the SCBA's can be operated for up to 4 hours. Bringing a supply of the new personal breathing apparatus about the size of a pop can (see link below) may provide relief from the smoke to people waiting on the rooftop. 
