Early Wednesday morning, San Francisco firefighters manually searched through the contents of a garbage truck to rescue a man who became trapped inside. The incident occurred around 4:11 a.m. after emergency services received a report of someone being stuck in a Recology dumpster truck. Bystanders had previously told the driver they heard screams coming from within the vehicle, prompting the driver to stop operating the truck. Instead of using the truck’s compactor to remove the waste, which could have caused further harm, firefighters opted to dig through the trash to locate the individual. A video shared on social media showed firefighters standing among piles of debris and trash as they carefully lifted the man out of the truck onto a stretcher. The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a local trauma center for treatment of possible crush injuries. Samuel Menchaca, a public information officer for the San Francisco Fire Department, described the situation as dangerous, noting that garbage trucks are not designed for safety in such scenarios. “That thing will just continue to compact the garbage that’s in there,” he said. Authorities believe the man may have been searching for items in the waste area. Menchaca called the incident a “unique circumstance,” as most entrapments in garbage containers are easier to resolve with the help of ladders or additional personnel. Although all firefighters involved wore protective gear, one suffered a laceration and was taken to the hospital. Menchaca urged the public to avoid entering waste containers, which can contain sharp objects, needles, hazardous substances, and wildlife. He emphasized the risks involved in such situations and the importance of seeking help from trained professionals instead of attempting to handle them alone.