Early Wednesday on the St. Johns Bridge, Portland firefighters rolled out a ladder to help two people get down from the span, according to city emergency updates. Crews from Truck 22 and Station 22 positioned on the bridge while the bureau's technical-rescue resources were dispatched to the scene. Officials said both people were safely off the structure and in the care of emergency personnel.
On X, Portland Fire & Rescue told followers that “Truck 22 is placing ladder to assist individuals to the bridge decking,” later updating that the two were “safely down” as crews wrapped up the operation. The bureau’s replies noted that Station 22 stayed on scene to monitor the location while PF&R’s Technical Rescue unit responded. At the time of publication, the department’s X thread remained the only official public update on the incident. Portland Fire & Rescue
Bridge Has Seen Similar Rescues This Spring
The St. Johns Bridge has turned into a recurring backdrop for high-angle and “person in crisis” responses this spring, with firefighters repeatedly using ropes and ladders to reach people beyond the railing. In May, a rope rescue on the span briefly shut the crossing to traffic while a rescuer was lowered to a person below the deck, as detailed in coverage of a May rope rescue. Local TV also reported a separate May closure after a person climbed over the railing, a response that similarly disrupted traffic and neighborhood commutes. KPTV reported on that May closure.
How Crews Reach People on the Span
When someone climbs over or below the bridge railing, Portland Fire & Rescue’s high-angle teams and ladder companies rely on anchored rope systems, heavy apparatus and ladder trucks to reach them. Past PF&R field reports describe Station 22 working with the Technical Rescue team to rig rope systems, secure the person in place and then raise them back to the roadway deck. Those operations are deliberately slow and methodical, using the bridge’s suspension cabling and the weight of fire apparatus as anchor points to protect both rescuers and the people they are trying to reach. Portland Fire & Rescue
Help and Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, Multnomah County’s 24-hour Behavioral Health call center can be reached at 503-988-4888. The national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available by calling or texting 988, according to Multnomah County and SAMHSA. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 so dispatchers can send appropriate responders to the scene.
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