On June 12 the elevator stopped working at Lakeview Pointe Apartments in West Kelowna with two women stuck inside.
Shelly, who asked to be identified only by her first name over fears of eviction for speaking out, discovered the stuck individuals when she attempted to leave the apartment complex with her daughter and the elevator wasnB次元官网网址檛 responding.
B次元官网网址淲e were pressing the button and the light would turn on and then just turn off, like it wasnB次元官网网址檛 working at all.B次元官网网址�
With her daughter pounding on the elevator call button the pair then heard a faint hello.
B次元官网网址淪omeone was like, B次元官网网址榠s anybody out there?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Two women and a dog were stuck in the elevator, telling Shelly they had been stuck for about 25 minutes.
B次元官网网址淭hey said they pressed the help button or used the phone in the elevator, but it was really crackly and they couldnB次元官网网址檛 hear what the person was sayingB次元官网网址�. So, they must have contacted the property managers and they got a hold of the elevator technician who is on the other side of Kelowna. They told them it was going to be around an hour before someone could get out there to get them out.B次元官网网址�
Shelly said her first course of action was to call the office, but noted that staff are hardly ever there and no one answered the phone.
Shelly then made the decision to call the Kelowna RCMPB次元官网网址檚 non-emergency line and was transferred to the West Kelowna Fire Department.
B次元官网网址淲ithin 10 minutes they were here and got them out.B次元官网网址�
The lack of urgency from the property management company Canadian Apartment Properties - REIT, Shelly said was shocking.
While Shelly was on the phone with RCMP non-emergency a maintenance worker came to the elevator to post a sign over the elevator buttons.
The note read:
Elevator not operating currently.
Dear residents,
Please be advised the elevator is stuck at this time. TK Elevator will be here as soon as possible to maintain the elevator. If you have any questions, please contact the management office.
The sign was posted while the two women were still inside.
B次元官网网址淗e put it up and didnB次元官网网址檛 even make eye contact with me. He came out of the stairwell, put the sign up and then went back into the stairwell. Not a word.B次元官网网址�
Shelly said when the firefighters opened the elevator doors, the women B次元官网网址渨ere on the ground with their dog, because there is no air in there. They were not okay and they were very frightened.B次元官网网址� Thankfully the women and their dog were otherwise unharmed.
B次元官网网址淭hey didnB次元官网网址檛 understand why theyB次元官网网址檇 have to wait an hour for somebody and why the apartment didnB次元官网网址檛 call the fire department.B次元官网网址�
Black Press spoke with West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund about what to do if youB次元官网网址檙e stuck in an elevator.
B次元官网网址淭his type of situation, first of all, doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen very often,B次元官网网址� Brolund said, noting that it is required that elevators must be well maintained.
OneB次元官网网址檚 first course of action if stuck should be pushing the emergency button or using the help phone inside the elevator like the two women attempted to do.
B次元官网网址淭hat will get you in touch with help. If they make an assessment and determine that the fire department is needed then we certainly would respond.B次元官网网址�
Brolund said the last thing anyone should do if theyB次元官网网址檙e stuck in an elevator is attempt to rescue themself.
B次元官网网址淢aybe theyB次元官网网址檝e seen it on TV and they know B次元官网网址榠f I pry here I can get out.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not safe. We want to avoid that, but we also want to make sure the situation doesnB次元官网网址檛 get any worse.B次元官网网址�
Brolund said being stuck can cause anxiety to rise and create a medical emergency, making quick rescue more crucial.
At the end of the day, Brolund said there is nothing wrong with calling in the fire department if youB次元官网网址檙e stuck in an elevator.
Black Press reached out to the property management company by phone and email for comment, but CAPREIT has not responded.
The non-accredited business has at 1.48 star rating with the Better Business Bureau.
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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