A recovery effort in Banning. A trench collapsed trapping a worker inside and killing him.
Officials with Cal Fire say when they arrived on scene, dirt was still pouring in.
It happened in Banning on West Ramsey Street. A worker was buried 6-feet down a trench, that's not much deeper.
The trench partially collapsed covering the worker almost entirely with dirt.
Cal Fire says there are supports to keep the trench in tact, but the dirt didn't hold.
Capt. Julie Hutchinson/ Public Affairs - Cal Fire: “We've had a lot of rain this year. The soil compaction is different no matter what end of the county you're on. These things can be very dangerous if you're in holes and trenches.”
This isn't a rescue mission anymore. Just before noon on Tuesday, paramedics declared the man inside dead. He'd been in there for an hour at that point.
The recovery work is delicate; crews don't want the trench to collapse again putting their people in danger.
Capt. Julie Hutchinson/ Public Affairs - Cal Fire: “Or any movement that we do around that hole causes dirt to continue to fall not only on the victim but can actually trap rescuers as well.”
Cal Fire says the man worked for Pouk and Steinle, an electrical contraction company.
The City of Banning says the company was doing work for them installing underground utilities. They say they contracted this project.
Banning Director of Public Utilities: “Obviously, we're concerned about the family of the victim ... And anyone involved but again I don't know all the details so I don't want to comment at this point.”
People here with Pouk and Steinle wouldn't comment, saying, someone with the company's flying in to talk with the press.
Meanwhile, Cal Osha and the City of Banning start an investigation.