Fire crews in Arapahoe County, Colorado, rescued a teen who fell 30 feet into an abandoned missile silo on New Year's Day.
Officials from the Sable Altura Fire Rescue and Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said the teen was with one adult and another juvenile when he fell into the silo. The incident happened while the trio was walking on top of the silo located inside a state-owned private property along the 4500 block of S. Imboden.
The teen fell about 30 to 50 feet into an exhaust vent tunnel of a decommissioned Titan Missile Facility and into the water below, 9News reported.
How Did Officials Rescue the Teens?
Authorities received a 911 call around 3:45 p.m. on New Year's Day. Fire crews with Sable Altura built a rope system to lower rescuers and lift the teenager out of the silo. The teen had been transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Police have yet to release details about the identities of the teen and his companions. It is also unclear whether the trio would face any charges for entering private property.
Other Teens Falling into Missile Silos
This is not the first time officials rescued a teen from inside an abandoned missile silo. In June last year, two teens were cited after breaking into a silo near Deer Trail. Officials were called to the site after one of the teens fell through a two-story shaft and landed on twisted metal, broken concrete, and stagnant water. The teen sustained serious injuries.
There are currently six decommissioned Titan missile complexes in the state of Colorado. Four complexes (1A, 1B, 1C, and 2A) are located on the Former Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range east of Aurora. Complex 2B is located north of Deer Trail, and Complex 2C is located south of Elizabeth.
The silos no longer contain missiles, all of which were removed in 1965 after they were decommissioned, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The silos were designed to carry nuclear warheads and were fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen.
