fire escape

American  

noun

1. an apparatus or structure used to escape from a burning building, as a metal stairway down an outside wall.

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fire escape British  

noun

1. a means of evacuating people from a building in the event of fire, esp a metal staircase outside the building

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Etymology

Origin of fire escape

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

The staffers trapped on the roof would run down the fire escape, then scale a wall at the back.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

When one supportive community member played chants from a speaker in his apartment window, an officer scaled the building’s fire escape to tell him to stop, video of the incident shows.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

We pass a building adorned with a zigzag of metal fire escape steps where Tom Cruise was chased in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2024

Specifically, they allege that it lacked a fire escape, smoke detectors and other fire safety features.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

As the lightning faded into darkness, I descended the fire escape and continued on my way.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros