Page 54 of Fire and Icing

“Dispatch, engine one is en route. Maintenance is arriving on scene to attempt to restore elevator operation. One occupant reportedly inside.”

Dispatch responds, “Engine one, copy. Maintenance en route to scene to attempt to restore elevator operation. One occupant inside. Continue response and advise on arrival.”

We pull up out front and I clip my mic to my collar and put my helmet on.

“Rookie on rescue,” Cody says. “Greyson is second man.”

Cody walks ahead of us into the building to gather details from the hotel manager. We run in behind him.

“She’s on the fourth floor. Not injured, but pretty emotional.”

“Hey!” A man shouts from across the lobby. He’s surrounded by other men in suits. A group of women in matching bridesmaid dresses is off to the left of him and the guys.

Despite his tuxedo and slicked back hair, he looks frazzled.

“Cody!” The man runs over to us. “Are you here to rescue Jillian?”

We’re obviously not here to deliver pizzas or provide entertainment for the reception.

“Yes,” Cody answers the man. “Don’t worry, Dane. We’ll get her out.”

“I can’t believe she’s stuck in the elevator! It’s our wedding day! The guests are all out in the garden waiting for her to come down the aisle.”

“We’ve got you, Dane,” Cody assures him.

Dane paces a few steps and turns. “Our wedding day.”

“You’ll be married in no time. Hang tight,” Patrick assures Dane.

Greyson eyes me. “Let’s go.”

I follow him to the service stairs and we take them two at a time to the fourth floor. It’s light work without our turnouts on. I’ve got a tool roll with everything we should need to get this bride out of her predicament.

Once we’re outside the elevator shaft, Greyson uses the elevator access key. I peer in as the hoistway doors slide open. The car is midway between floors, but closer to us than it is to the floor below us.

“Halfway between four and three,” I say to Greyson. “Looks closer to us, though.”

“Couldn’t be nearly here,” he says offhandedly. “I think we can maneuver the car up manually and get her out through the opening if we make enough room.”

I nod. “Let me double check with Patrick that the power is off.”

“Good call, Rookie.”

I speak into my transmitter and Patrick confirms power is off for the elevators.

We run down to the third floor and Greyson uses the key to open the shaft doors.

I shout in to the bride. “Jillian?”

“Yes! Help me! Please get me out of here!”

“We’re going to get you out. We have no intention of letting you miss your own wedding,” I assure her.

“Okay.” She takes a shuddering breath. “Okay. I’m just really claustrophobic. I can’t breathe.”

“So … tell me, how did you meet Dane?” I shout in, while Cody and I manually spin the mechanisms to raise the car as far as we’re able.

“Dane?” Her answer is breathy, but clear.

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