A bizarre standoff at a vacant north Everett home ended with firefighters tearing open a wall to rescue a man after he climbed onto a roof and became stuck inside a still-smoking chimney.
The incident unfolded around 8:40 a.m. Monday at the southeast corner of Broadway and 13th Street after neighbors reported smoke coming from a boarded-up home marked with “No Trespassing” signs, according to the Everett Police Department.
Officers arriving at the scene said they could hear someone inside the residence and confirmed smoke was coming from the chimney.
The man refused to come out of the house when officers attempted contact, police said. As officers tried entering through the front door, the man allegedly climbed out of a second-story window and onto the roof.
Officers outside the home ordered him to come down and surrender, but police said he ignored commands and instead climbed down into the chimney from the roof. The chimney was still smoking at the time, according to police.
The man eventually became stuck inside. Everett Fire Department crews were called to perform a technical rescue.
Firefighters initially attempted pulling the man out from the top of the chimney, but officials said he refused help and continued moving farther downward inside the chimney shaft.
Smoldering debris that had been inside the fireplace was removed before crews began opening the wall and fireplace area to reach him safely, officials said. Firefighters eventually removed the fireplace mantel and cut into the wall to extricate the man.
Once rescued, the man was arrested and transported to Providence Hospital for medical evaluation.
Officials did not immediately release the man’s identity or possible charges.
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