Shortly before 11 a.m. on July 29th, Metro Fire crews were called out to Hoffman Lane in Fair Oaks. Paramedics and firefighters arrived to find an unresponsive man suspended in a tree, approximately 40-50 feet high. The man was secured to the tree by a tree trimming harness set-up, with a chain saw dangling nearby.

Firefighters attempted to reach the man with engine ladders, while quickly calling for a Truck and Rescue to respond. The truck’s aerial ladder was raised; firefighters quickly assessed the man, secured him with a harness, and carefully lowered him to the ground. Once on the ground, it was determined that the deceased tree trimmer had been cut by the chainsaw.

A man lost his life in this tragic accident today, even with safety precautions in place. When using chainsaws or other dangerous power tools, your personal safety and the safety of those around you cannot be understated.

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of this man.