WHY NOT TO USE THE LIFT IN A BUILDING / HIGHRISE FIRE ACCIDENT?

NBC has clearly spelt out the caution that in case of a fire accident, people must NEVER use the lift to escape or even to ascend or descend for rescue and firefighting operations, but use the staircase instead. But what many do not know is why?

For instance, how many know that most deaths in fire situations happen due to suffocation by smoke rather than by actually being consumed by flames. Smoke is a killer and enclosed spaces where there is little exit outlet for smoke like lifts, toilets etc. can become mini gas chambers and certain death is assured if living beings are enclosed in a lift when smoke enters. Also, a lift can stop between floors in a fire situation and that again becomes a death trap with no evacuation option physically available even as the fire rages.

Therefore, it is better to climb stairs and have safety options at hand in a fire accident then to enter a lift and invite death.