( CNN ) -- A Canadian Forces crew calmly plucked a terrified crane operator trapped by a smoke-spewing fire in Kingston , Ontario . The Tuesday rescue was captured by television cameras and bystanders and posted to social media . The operator had moved from the cab of his crane to its very tip to escape flames and smoke from a building fire that broke out below him Tuesday , and bystanders captured the rescue in a series of images posted to social media . `` At first he was petrified , he did n't want to let go of the crane , '' rescue helicopter commander Capt . David Agnew told CNN affiliate CTV of the crane operator . The helicopter crew arrived to find smoke and flames everywhere and were concerned about the crane collapsing , Agnew told the network . A rescue specialist dropped out of the hovering helicopter on a line , secured the crane operator to himself before the air crew hoisted both back inside to safety . The crane operator suffered only minor injuries , according to CTV . The crane remained standing Wednesday , CBC reported , but engineers are concerned it could fall . A two-block area around the crane remained evacuated , the network said . The fire destroyed a student residence hall being built at Queens University , CBC reported .
Canadian Forces helicopter rescues crane operator trapped by fire . The fire Monday destroyed a building in Kingston , Ontario , CBC reports . The crane operator escaped with only minor injuries , the network says .