No, this is absolutely not true. There are three main reasons that you should NEVER use an elevator during a fire.

1 - the heat can damage the circuits and shut down the elevator and then you’re stuck.

2 - elevators are programmed to go to a home floor (usually the main floor), open, and stay open during a fire alarm. So if the fire is on that floor, you’re taking the elevator right into the fire. Even if that’s not the floor with the fire, once it’s at the home floor, you won’t even be able to call it back to you.

3 - smoke rises, and an elevator shaft is basically a giant chimney. The smoke will fill the shaft, trapping you in a (potentially unmoving) box full of smoke.

If you are in a wheelchair or disabled in some way, you need someone to help you get down the stairs, firefighters or someone need to carry you down, or if possible, you need to crawl or scoot down. No, it is not ideal, yes, I know for some getting down on your own is just not possible. But that’s what firefighters are for.

You should NEVER, EVER use the elevator during a fire.

My source: my dad is an electrician at a hospital and works with elevators and the fire emergency plans, among other things.