‘I was trapped’: Nearly 100 people needed to be rescued from Toronto elevators during heat wave

Tenants of a north Toronto apartment tower had been without an elevator for months, and then another broke down at the height of a record-breaking heat wave. Nearly 100 people were rescued from elevators that broke down or got stuck during the heat wave, according to figures provided to CTV News by the Toronto Fire Department.

Rising temperatures, humidity and sometimes power outages all contributed to 96 rescues over three days — more than three times the usual volume of calls. Critics have also raised questions about potential weaknesses in provincial elevator regulations.

“In a heat wave, humidity increases. These mechanical devices are usually safe, but sometimes they stop in the heat and we have to go to help,” Toronto Fire Department Chief Paul O’Brien said in an interview.

Tenants at 45 Driftwood Street in north Toronto told CTV News that a large portion of the rescues were likely related to their building. One of the 14-storey building's two elevators had been out of service for five months due to a fire, and the other broke down a few days ago.

"Three days ago, I got stuck in the elevator. I was stuck there for 32 minutes until the fire department came to get me down," said Ola Adekulu, a seventh-floor resident. She needs the elevator because of severe arthritis. "We were sweating like crazy, there were four of us in the elevator."

Another tenant, Marcia Walker, said she always worries about getting stuck again when she uses the elevator. “I was lucky to only get stuck in the elevator once, but other times I felt like the elevator was trying to trap me, so what I do is open the door and run.”

Element Elevator Company, which maintains the elevators in the building, told CTV News that the problem with the elevator is likely due to a strange control system that was designed in the province but whose designers are no longer alive.

“These systems are rare. There is limited technical support and there is no documentation to guide us,” said Bogdan Rus, the company’s vice president of operations. “It’s a complicated situation.”

As for the other elevator, it was damaged in a fire and he is waiting for the owners, Trusswood Apartments, to resolve insurance issues related to the fire. A completely new elevator system could cost between $200,000 and $300,000.

Russ said he was able to fix one of the elevators within hours of CTV News' visit, sharing videos of the control room and the system in action.

The owners' representative, Ravi Sivalingam, said they would like to fix the other elevator, but are somewhat limited because the fire that damaged the elevator occurred in a unit the owner did not have insurance for.

"We really sympathize with the situation and don't want to upset our tenants, but our hands are tied and the elevator company can't find the parts to fix the second elevator," he said.

District representative Tom Rakosevich believes the situation reflects a failure of a provincial inspection system that was highlighted in a 2018 report by the provincial auditor general.

"Seven years on and this problem is not just here, it's all over the city," Rakosevich said.

Ontario’s elevator regulator, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), said that residential elevator owners are required to report breakdowns that last more than 48 hours. The released statistics show that reports of elevator breakdowns have increased from 28 per month from June 2022 to May 2023 to 29 per month in 2023-2024 and 34 per month in 2024-2025.

“Because the reporting requirement has only been in place for a few years, it’s unclear whether the breakdowns have increased or if reporting has improved. It’s also important to note that these statistics do not capture the overall increase in the number of residential elevators installed in the province,” said TSSA spokesperson Alexandra Campbell.

O'Brien said elevators are generally safe and if you get stuck in one, stay calm and don't try to rescue yourself, as this can lead to a very dangerous situation.

"Don't try to rescue yourself," he said. "There's usually a bell or a phone system and they're usually monitored by a security officer who's on site. Just stay calm. If you feel like you're getting a little hot in there, sit down, we'll come to your aid."

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