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

"I turned up to a nightclub in Bristol and the event was for me to throw burgers at the students off a fire escape," she said.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2024

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

"As I got to the door, there was a little fire escape and some England fan shouted: 'Warburton it was a red card.' That was massive motivation for me. That one little moment."

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2024

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

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

Yes, across two yards she saw a little girl sitting on a fire escape with a book in her lap and a bag of candy at hand.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith