YOUNG CURFEW CLAUS

STOCKTON – A Stockton teenager learned there’s a reason only Santa Claus can make it all the way down a chimney.

Attempting to sneak into his home Thursday morning, 18-year-old George Herrera became stuck in the bottom third of the chimney.

After breaking a family curfew, Herrera was trying to get back inside, said Art Ray, an operator chief for the Stockton Fire Department.

The uninjured man was pulled to safety in a matter of minutes after fire crews arrived, Ray said.

He was found when emergency crews responded to the 500 block of North Baker Street at about 10:15 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a trapped chimney sweeper, Ray said.

“When we got on scene, the family told us he was attempting to sneak back in and had gotten stuck,” he said.

The 5-foot-10-inch and 150-pound Herrera almost made it to the bottom, Ray said, but apparently failed to account for the two separate 45-degree angles towards the base of the chimney.

“We could see his feet sticking out when we arrived,” Ray said.

Ray estimated the man was trapped for about 90 minutes before emergency crews were called.

He was pulled to safety after firefighters secured ropes around his wrists and pulled him up about 8 feet with the help of a firetruck’s ladder, Ray said.

“We’re not specifically trained to rescue people from chimneys, but we are trained to pull people from confined spaces,” he said. “We were able to get him out in about 15 minutes.”

Herrera was not under the influence of any illegal substances, officials said, and was allowed to return inside his home after being rescued.

Herrera did not tell emergency workers if he had previously attempted to enter him home through its chimney, Ray said.

Contact reporter Jordan

ORIGINALSTORY