California Fire Department Practices Technical Elevator Rescues

The Chico Fire Department of Chico, California, conducted a specialized training exercise simulating a rare, high-risk elevator rescue scenario on April 1, KRCR reports. The drill, performed at Chico State’s Whitney Hall, consisted of lowering crew members from three floors above the ground level down an elevator shaft. The drill was specifically aimed at the 12 members of the department’s technical rescue team. Philip Stelle, Chico Fire captain, said: “Calls for people stuck in elevators is fairly common. Significant rescues like we simulated today are extremely uncommon; they fall under the ‘low frequency-high risk’ criteria. We wanted to come down here and get some practice on how to do that safely and effectively.”