Firefighters Master Low-Frequency, High-Risk Elevator Emergencies in Realistic Drill

Binghamton, NY - Firefighters from the Binghamton Fire Department advanced their technical operational capabilities through a specialized training evolution focused on complex elevator hoistway rescues.

The multi-company drill, recognized on Saturday, October 17, 2026, brought together personnel from Squad 21, Tower 21, and Quint 2 to simulate high-angle car-top rescue operations. The exercise addressed scenarios where an elevator becomes stalled between floor landings or in positions that completely prevent emergency crews from freeing trapped occupants using standard landing door keys or conventional opening methods.

During the evolution, firefighters established technical rope rescue lowering systems from upper landings, safely deploying a firefighter directly down the interior of the shaft to make physical contact with the roof of the stalled elevator cabin. Working in the confined, hazardous environment of an open hoistway, crews practiced mechanical rigging, fall-arrest protocols, and coordinated communication to maintain safety while maneuvering personnel above the hoist car.

Department leadership noted that while deep-shaft elevator entrapments are low-frequency events, their high-risk nature demands rigorous, routine practice with technical rope and mechanical advantage systems so firefighters can intervene effectively when standard rescue tactics are exhausted.