How does the fire alarm system tie into the elevator system?

Many elevator systems are extremely vulnerable to smoke and fire and any cars are automatically sent to certain level, usually the ground-floor lobby during a fire alarm, where they will remain unless activated by a "firefighter's key".

One reason for this is to reduce the chances that occupants will become trapped in an elevator during a fire, such as when a fire in a lobby area "calls" the car to the floor of the fire, opens the doors when it gets there and injures the occupants.

In some cases, specially designed and labeled elevators may be used during a fire situation for purpose of evacuation, rather than total reliance upon stairways.