Waterloo Firefighter Climbs Flag Pole for Repair

October 17, 2013

A Waterloo, Iowa, firefighter has successfully repaired an old flag pole by hanging about 200 feet above a downtown building.

Ty Graham, a member of the Waterloo Fire Rescue, climbed the 70-foot flag pole atop an eight-story building on Monday to replace a pulley damaged by severe weather earlier this year. He used a harness and straps to do the work.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports wind gusts of more than 25 mph caused the pole to sway as Graham climbed it. But the firefighter, who was hired by the building’s owners for the job, successfully installed the new pulley.

The pole has been without an American flag since severe weather knocked it onto the street. The flag will be back in place in a few days.