Abstract: A portable emergency fire fighting rescue and evacuation elevator for high rise buildings having roofs previously equipped with inverted L shaped hook structures, the elevator being comprised of a portable self contained elevator prime mover structure and a portable passenger cab. The elevator prime mover structure is transportable by helicopter to the roof of the building where it is automatically fastened in place by the L shaped hook structures and pays out, from storage drums on the prime mover structure, elevator and electric prime mover cables over the side of the building for fastening to a passenger cab which has been transported by truck to the building. The passenger cab is two stories high with each story having a sliding door between two caterpillar structures, each comprised of an endless belt with suction cups carried on idler wheels for movement of the endless belt suction cups against the side of the building.