To protect passengers during a machine room fire, which action should be taken?

To protect passengers during a machine room fire, which action should be taken?

• A. Lower all cars to the pit and evacuate
• B. Open all doors to ventilate
• C. Bring all cars to the next lowest landing, remove passengers, and secure the elevator
• D. Shut down power and leave the area

Answer: (C)

In a machine room fire, the priority is to protect passengers by getting them out of the elevator system and preventing the elevator from operating during the incident. The best action is to bring the cars to the next lowest landing, remove the passengers, and secure the elevator so it cannot be used. Moving to a safe floor keeps people out of the burning hoistway and away from heat, smoke, and machinery, while securing the elevator stops any accidental calls or movement that could trap or injure someone.

Lowering all cars to the pit is risky because the pit is typically hard to access and can fill with heat, water, or debris, creating a dangerous entrapment situation. Opening doors to ventilate would feed oxygen to the fire and spread smoke through the hoistway. Shutting down power and leaving the area may leave passengers stranded inside the car or hoistway, increasing the danger.