Story and Photos by Bill Xikis

MANORVILLE, NY - On December 15, 2005 at 1700 hours the Manorville Fire Department was activated for a rescue of a worker injured on a communications tower at Route 111 and Eastport Manor Road.

Upon arrival Chief of Dept. John Kovalsky was informed a worker was struck by a falling communications cable at approximately 380 feet up. The Brookhaven Town Technical Rescue Team was requested and toned out for a level 1 response.

Hagerman FD, Selden FD, and Ronkonkoma Fire Department were dispatched, followed by Setauket Fire Department and Port Jefferson Fire Department as standby teams. Also responding was Chief Gary Kreidler (5-0-6) as the Team Liaison, Chief Randy Miller as operations Chief (Hagerman FD) and Chief Bill Xikis as staging/logistics officer (Selden FD)

The injured worker was assisted down by fellow co-workers before a full rescue operation got underway. He sustained a fractured arm from the cable striking him.