Barnes & Noble elevator closed after four trapped at Smith Haven Mall

An elevator at Barnes & Noble inside the Smith Haven Mall remains out of service following a rescue operation this weekend that freed four people who were temporarily trapped inside.

The Nesconset Fire Department confirmed the Saturday afternoon mission at the Lake Grove shopping center, an incident first reported by News 12 Long Island. Nesconset Fire Department officials responded to the scene at approximately 3:45 p.m. after receiving reports that four individuals were stuck in an elevator.

Fire officials said crews were forced to pry the elevator doors open using a hydraulic rescue tool similar to the Jaws of Life. The rescue effort took roughly 15 to 20 minutes to complete.

No injuries were reported.

The Nesconset Fire Department later confirmed the rescue in a post shared on its official Facebook page. As of Monday afternoon, the elevator remained inoperable — with yellow tape criss-crossing its second-floor entrance and a wooden chair set in front of the doors as an added barrier.

An “out of order” sign is taped at the first-floor entrance to the elevator.

Nicholas Esposito contributed to this report.

_{Top: Nicholas Esposito photos.}