HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Emergency crews freed a woman trapped in a chimney in northwest Harris County Friday morning.
According to Harris County Sheriff's deputies, Lauren Fox, 20, was trying to lower herself down the chimney of a home in the 4400 block of Spring Stuebner when she got stuck.
The Spring Fire Department and Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene around 5:20 a.m. and firefighters were able to dismantle the chimney and free her.
"Very bizarre, but you know, nowadays nothing surprises me," said the homeowner.
The woman who owns the vacant home did not want her name revealed. She said she woke up around 6 a.m. Friday to a strange call from her brother.
"He said there are fireman trying to get a girl out of the chimney," said the homeowner.
Firefighters said Fox had crawled into the chimney from the roof of the home and got stuck. T
Thankfully, she had her cellphone, and after a while, she called 911.
"There were three fire trucks, an ambulance, fireman everywhere, brick flying in the living room," said the homeowner.
They pulled her out with just a few scratches and bruises. She told police she was just trying to get warm. But according to public records, she lives in a home about a half mile away. Robert Scott lives next door to what he describes as her parents’ house.
"I think that is crazy. Something has to be wrong with climbing a chimney and getting stuck in the chimney, but the more crazy part is calling 911 from inside the chimney. I would have been embarrassed," said Scott.
Fox was arrested and was taken into custody at the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Apparently, this isn't her first time doing this. Fox was out on bond from another criminal trespass charge earlier this month.
The Spring Fire Department says this is definitely one for the books.
"In my 19 years of this, this is a first chimney rescue we have ever done,” said District Chief Kevin Wiseman, with the Spring Fire Department.
Fox told deputies that she was trying to find a place to stay warm. She was checked out at the scene, then charged with criminal trespass of habitation.
Fox was charged with criminal trespass of habitation.