Little Daredevil Rescued From Clearwater Chimney

CLEARWATER, FL — An 8-year-old Clearwater girl with a nose for adventure found herself stuck in a tight spot Monday night, prompting the need for an unusual rescue. According to Clearwater Fire Rescue officials, Isabella Cooke managed to get herself trapped inside a chimney with no way to get out.

Fire rescue crews were called to a home in the 500 block of Woodlawn Street around 6 p.m. Jan. 16. Once there, they found Isabella trapped inside the structure that “did not have the usual opening inside the home, so there was no way for her to get out,” an email from the agency explained.

Undaunted, firefighters spent about 35 minutes carefully and “meticulously chipping away at the outside of the chimney to gain access to her without causing her any injuries,” the agency said. Once a small hole was created in the chimney, Isabella was able to get out.

“(This was) not one of the more usual calls” for the agency, Assistant Fire Chief John Klinefelter said following Isabella’s rescue. He was happy to report the little girl only suffered a bruised knee during her hair-raising adventure.

As for how Isabella managed to get stuck in the first place, the agency explained that she lives next door to the vacant home where the incident occurred.

“She apparently shimmied up a pole at the rear of the house and gained access to the roof,” the email said. “While on the roof, she either climbed into or fell into the chimney.”

Photos courtesy of Clearwater Fire Rescue