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Two Window Washers Rescued 15 Stories Up After Scaffold Failure at Tysons Tower

10:42 AM, 12/05/2025
Two Window Washers Rescued 15 Stories Up After Scaffold Failure at Tysons Tower

Quick Summary: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a high-angle emergency on Dec. 4 after a mechanical failure left two window washers suspended about 15 stories up at Tysons Tower. Crews built twin-tension rope-lowering systems anchored to the building's steel beams and performed two controlled rescues, at about 10:07 a.m. and 10:24 a.m. Both workers were brought down safely with no reported injuries, and crews recovered equipment and dismantled anchors.

Fairfax County Fire And Rescue Conducts High-Angle Rescue At Tysons Tower

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) responded at about 9:17 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, to the 7900 block of Tysons One Place in Tysons, Virginia, after reports that two window washers were left suspended by a malfunctioning window-washing scaffold roughly 15 stories above the ground.

Building management informed technical rescue crews that the scaffold experienced a mechanical failure while workers were cleaning the exterior of Tysons Tower, a 22-story office building that houses financial, consulting and technology firms.

Rescue Operations

Rescue teams quickly accessed the roof to evaluate anchor options, inspect potential edge hazards, check wind conditions and assess the scaffold's stability. Crews constructed twin-tension rope-lowering systems anchored to the building's steel beams before beginning the high-angle rescues.

At about 10:07 a.m., a rescuer performed a controlled transition over the roof edge, descended to the first worker, inspected the worker's harness and rigged them into the rope system. The rescuer and the worker were then lowered together into the tower's ladder bucket below.

After recovering and resetting the rope systems and anchors, crews repeated the operation for the second worker. That rescue was completed at approximately 10:24 a.m.

Aftermath

No injuries were reported. FCFRD shared multiple photos and video of the operation demonstrating the complexity and scale of the technical rescue. After both workers were brought to safety, crews recovered all equipment, dismantled anchors and performed a final safety check.

FCFRD Statement: "We are extremely proud of our technical rescue members. Thanks to their expertise, there were no injuries and everyone went home safe."

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