Firefighters rescued two window washers on Friday evening, Nov. 6, after the workers became stuck outside the 39th floor of a high-rise in Downtown Bellevue.
The Bellevue Fire Department said on social media at about 5 p.m. that two people needed to be rescued at 555 108th Ave. NE. Firefighters estimated the workers were roughly 532 feet above the ground.
Bellevue Fire sent its rope rescue technicians to the scene. They removed the two workers from the platform and lowered them to the ground with a rope system. The Redmond Fire Department helped with the rescue, and the Bellevue Police Department flew its drone to support the crews.
Crews worked in darkness and high winds during the operation. Both workers were brought down safely.
“Working in high winds and darkness, crews navigated extremely challenging conditions to bring both individuals to safety,” Redmond firefighters said in a social media post. “Rescues like these are a testament to the countless hours of training, preparation, and coordination that go into being ready when it matters most.”
Officials have not said what caused the window washers to become stranded.
About 555 Tower
The building at 555 108th Ave. NE is 555 Tower, a 42-story office tower built by Vulcan Real Estate. Vulcan broke ground on the project in 2020, and the final structural beam went in during August 2022. The tower has 695,610 square feet of office space and is leased by Amazon, which moved employees into the building in 2023.
The property also has a standalone retail pavilion surrounded by public open space. In 2023, Pinstripes announced plansto open an Italian-American bistro with bowling and bocce in the pavilion. In February 2025, the company dropped the location, and the space was listed for lease.
