The Santa Barbara City Fire Department rescued a man Wednesday afternoon who was electrocuted while performing tree-trimming work.

Fire engines, a battalion chief and American Medical Response responded at 1:23 p.m. to a report of a man stuck in a tree in the first block of East Valerio Street. While en route to the scene, they learned that the man had been electrocuted, according to City Fire Department spokesman Ryan DiGuilio.

He said the first units on scene reported the man to be conscious and about 30 feet in the air hanging upside down. His harness had begun to fail and was holding him by his ankles.

Firefighters attached a harness to the victim and lowered him to the ground using a 35-foot ladder and ropes, DiGuilio said.

The man had suffered severe electrical burns but remained conscious. He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. His condition was unknown Wednesday afternoon.

— Noozhawk managing editor Michelle Nelson can be reached at mnelson@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.