A construction worker was hospitalized over the weekend after falling into a shaft at a Boise job site, prompting a rapid response rescue effort from emergency crews.
The incident occurred Sunday on North Lander Street, where Boise Fire officials say the worker became trapped partway down a vertical shaft. First responders took over after on-site personnel tried to pull the man out on their own. According to a Boise Fire Department Facebook update, the department’s specialized Technical Rescue Team arrived and successfully extricated the worker using a precision basket lift system.
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The device allowed rescuers to stabilize the victim, secure him inside a rigid rescue basket, and hoist him safely to the surface. Once removed, the worker was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials confirmed.
Construction workers on-site reportedly initiated rescue attempts immediately after the fall, but the depth and confined space of the shaft required specialized tools and advanced technical training. Confined space rescues, like this one, are considered high-risk due to narrow access points, unstable footing, and the possibility of hazardous conditions below ground.
Boise Fire officials noted that technical rescue equipment, including anchors, rope systems, and confined-space harnesses, helped complete the extraction safely. Such resources are typically not available to standard construction crews, which is why firefighters stepped in to finish the operation.
Falls into shafts are one of the most dangerous hazards on job sites involving underground utilities, elevator construction, or foundation work. According to OSHA, these types of incidents often stem from missing barriers, unsecured openings, limited lighting, and lack of fall protection systems.
In recent years, Idaho has experienced increased construction growth in commercial and residential sectors, particularly in the Boise area. With such expansion comes elevated safety concerns. Industry experts say incidents like Sunday’s highlight an ongoing need for:
Fire rescue teams across the state have responded to more construction emergencies as building activity intensifies. In Boise, the Technical Rescue Team regularly trains for complex underground and high-angle scenarios, making them one of the region’s specialty units.
Officials have not released the identity of the injured worker, and no additional details regarding the construction site’s contractor have been publicly announced as of Tuesday.
Originally reported by EastIdahoNews.com staff in East Idaho News.
