Oh! Using a fire hose sounds like a horrible solution, even if it was a last resort!

It's true, the kitty stuck in the tree might be feral. In the photo I don't see a collar/tags. The cat looks 'wild', but it may just be he has the windblown look and all of his fur is fluffed up!

Two people with thick gloves getting the cat sounds like the right approach. I would suggest raising them up in one of those 'cherry pickers' that electric companies use when they're repairing lines, although I don't know if those go up high enough.