KINGSTON – One teen was taken to a hospital as a precaution, when the young man tumbled from a treetop at Kingston’s Village Green Park Monday afternoon. North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were called to the popular park on West Kingston Road at 3:15 p.m.

A group of students were celebrating the last day of school in the park. Another teen called to report the incident, stating that the 15-year-old had climbed a large alder to about 40 feet above the ground when a branch gave way. The teen fell approximately 10 feet before landing some 30 feet above ground level. Following the mishap, another teen climbed to the first young man’s location with the goal of keeping him from falling further.

Two members of the region’s technical rescue team were on-shift at NKF&R today to direct the rescue. Because the teen didn’t appear to have lost consciousness or require urgent treatment, crews conducted the rescue slowly and carefully. Falls over 10 feet are considered life-threatening; a fall from three times that height would likely cause critical injuries.

Crews placed a ladder against the tree and set-up a system of ropes, pulleys and harnesses. One of the tech rescue specialists assisted the second teen to ground first; he was uninjured. Next, the other the tech rescue specialist helped the injured teen into a harness and helmet for the descent. After about 30 minutes, the second teen was loaded into an ambulance for transport to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton for a full assessment of his injuries.

NKF&R participates in a regional technical rescue group that’s funded in part by U.S. Department of Homeland Security grants. Four of the district’s firefighters who serve on the team received extensive initial training in confined space rescue, rope rescue, high-angle rescue, trench rescue and other specialized skills. Members must also participate in monthly specialized training as well as in quarterly day-long drills to keep their skills sharp.