06/16/2026
Imagine being trapped between floors in an elevator.
Not knowing how long you'll be there. Not knowing what's happening outside. And if you're a parent, trying to stay calm for your child while uncertainty grows with every passing minute.
This weekend, that's exactly what a father and his son experienced when they became trapped inside an elevator in a parking deck.
When our firefighters arrived on Engine 16, Rescue 9, Truck 8, Battalion 4, and Squad 24, the mission wasn't simply to open an elevator. The mission was to take away fear.
Crews quickly assessed the situation and developed a rescue plan. Personnel assigned to our truck companies utilized their specialized training in rope rescue disciplines to establish a rope system from a floor above while additional firefighters worked to gain access to the occupants. At the same time, one firefighter remained where he could see and speak with the father and son, keeping them informed, reassuring them, and reminding them they were not alone.
Because that's what service looks like.
It's technical expertise and precision. It's training for situations most people hope they never encounter. But it's also human connection. It's understanding that sometimes the most important thing you can provide isn't a tool or a rope system, it's confidence, calm, and the assurance that help has arrived.
Thanks to teamwork, professionalism, and extensive training, both individuals were safely removed without injury.
Moments like these are a reminder of why our firefighters train so relentlessly. The rope systems, the rescue techniques, the countless hours of preparation - those things matter. But they matter because they allow us to fulfill a greater purpose: serving people when they need us most.
We're proud of the men and women who answer that call every day, bringing not only skill and expertise, but compassion and care.
Because at the heart of every rescue is a person counting on someone to show up.
And that's exactly what they did.
