(Photos from ACFD and The Washington Post) A concrete slab collapsed Dec. 8 on the 24th floor of a high-rise building under construction in the Rosslyn district of Arlington County, trapping three workers and injuring a dozen more.
Arlington County firefighters - along with fire crews from the Fort Myer military post, the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County - treated the casualties. A surgical team from George Washington University Hospital also responded. The size of the alarm assignment was the equivalent of a general alarm fire.
The incident - at 1901 North Lynn St. - recalled high-rise construction accidents at job sites in Crystal City in 1968 and Bailey's Crossroads in 1974.
Construction worker Oscar Moscoso, who was on the roof of the high-rise, told reporters that a scaffold failed - triggering the collapse of wet concrete at about 8:30 a.m. Workers - who had planned a "topping-out" party later in the day - used their hands and shovels to reach the injured before firefighters and paramedics arrived.
Arlington County Fire Captain Tom Polera said an approximately 60 x 30 foot area of the roof collapsed onto the 24th, or top floor, of the building about 2 1/2 hours after workers began pouring concrete, according to The Washington Post.
During the rescue, a firefighter suffered a back injury.
Battalion Chief Scott McKay - Battalion 112 - was the incident commander.
Units assigned to the alarm, according to ACFD3.COM:
Engines: 102, 103, 105, 106, 108, 110, 161, 202
Trucks: 104, 208
Rescues: 104, 109, 206
Medics: 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 109, 110, 202, 205, 208, 401, 418
Also: Command Unit, Hazmat 101, TRT 110, Hazmat 202, Mass Casualty Unit, Battalion 111, 112, FM 114, EMS Chief, Services Chief.
The Falls Church volunteers sent their canteen unit, Canteen 106.