Have no fear, RFD is here! This week, Rescue 11 is drilling advanced elevator rescue techniques. This includes patient removals between floors & car top hatch, securing a compromised elevator car, Paratech Elevator Support Kit & Elevator Rescue Kit, and proper Lock Out / Tag Out of elevator machinery. Don’t panic if you get stuck - we’ve got your back! | Rochester Fire Department

Before anyone steps into that elevator, you need to account for every car in the bank. Phase One recall brings all elevators back to the lobby. That's the theory. But here's the reality: If one car doesn't return, you have a problem. Mechanical failure. System malfunction. Possible entrapment. This is your moment of truth—the verification step that many departments skip. Every elevator in that bank must be accounted for before you proceed. No exceptions. Missing this step? That's how preventable

The dreaded door restrictor. It's been part of elevator systems since the early 1990s. And while it keeps the riding public safe, it presents a unique challenge for firefighters trying to open an elevator car door during emergencies. Here's what it does: The door restrictor prevents passengers from self-evacuating when the car isn't aligned with a landing, typically more than 18 inches above or below floor level. When the car is between floors, the restrictor locks the doors. Why? To prevent pas