The unidentified man was cleaned off and treated for minor cuts and bruises by local firefighters.

FILLMORE, CA. - On 4/17/2011 at 9:06pm the City of Fillmore Fire Department was dispatched to a residence in the city of Fillmore for a reported technical rescue.

Upon arriving on scene, fire personnel discovered a male subject in his forties had fallen into an abandoned cesspool approximately twelve feet below ground. Compounding the situation, a broken waterline adjacent to the opening of the pool was filling the pool with water as the subject stood by for assistance.

Firefighters were able to lower a ladder into the opening of the brick-walled vessel and assist the subject to safety. The subject was briefly examined by paramedics who determined he suffered only minor cuts and bruises and did not require transport to the hospital.

The resident stated he had lived at the location for several years but never knew there was any type of cesspool in his backyard. Cesspools were installed by contractors 60+ years ago to house sewage and wastewater. Many of these pools that were once active have now been decommissioned and filled with concrete slurry to prevent incidents on this nature from happening.