Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA: A woman trapped in an apartment building trash chute in Koreatown was rescued by firefighters Tuesday night.

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responded to the 800 block of South Hobart Boulevard and were on the scene at 8:43 p.m., Mar. 29, for a technical rescue of a female patient trapped in a concrete trash chute in an apartment building built sometime in the 1930s.

LAFD Battalion Chief Lance McCloskey, interviewed at the location, said buildings at that time contained utility chutes used for wires, trash or anything else. He also said the initial call was around 8:30 p.m. for someone stuck in an elevator, but when firefighters arrived, they found someone in a utility shaft.

LAFD reported the female was located conscious and breathing about 20 feet down from the roof of a four story apartment building. McCloskey said plans to remove the woman from the shaft were discussed until the final decision was to lower her to the ground floor.

Urban Search and Rescue along with Heavy Rescue specialists evaluated the situation to determine how to safely access the patient, according to LAFD.

Firefighters deployed a rope system from the roof, secured the patient and lowered her down to the ground, LAFD reported. Once the harness was on the patient, the rescue went quickly, said McCloskey.

The patient was evaluated by firefighter/paramedics and showed no signs of any injuries. McCloskey said the female is 40 years old.

According to McCloskey, approximately 49 firefighters were on the scene and the Los Angeles Police Department was called by LAFD to the location to investigate the incident.

LAFD reported the completion of the technical rescue at 9:18 p.m.

There is no information at this time regarding the circumstances that trapped the woman in the chute.