Flying high: Firefighter climbs pole atop city to fix flag pole
WATERLOO | Ty Graham is not afraid of heights. But high winds gave him moments of concern as he dangled some 200 feet above downtown Waterloo on Monday.
Graham climbed to the top of the 70-foot flag pole atop the Black’s Building to replace a pulley that was broken in a storm earlier this year. Wind gusts of more than 25 mph caused the pole to sway as Graham made his ascent.
“You can hear it coming,” he said of the wind. “A couple of times I was like, ‘you’ve got to be patient, you’ve got to relax.'”
Graham was hired by Midtown Development, which owns the eight-story building, to replace the pulley. The pulley was damaged in severe weather and sent the building’s American flag onto Sycamore Street. Once the pulley and rigging are set, the flag will fly on the pole once again.
-
- Ty Graham uses a harness and straps to make his way up the flag pole on the Black’s Building to install a new pulley Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa.
-
- Ty Graham uses a harness and straps to make his way up the flag pole on the Black’s Building to install a new pulley Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa.
-
- Ty Graham install a new pulley for the flag pole on the Black’s Building Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, in downtown Waterloo, Iowa.
-
- Ty Graham takes a photo of himself high above downtown Waterloo.
- Published in Latest News