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

Bryant entered the building containing the recording studio and opened a locked fire escape exit door to allow others to slip in without being seen by Mizell.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 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

"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

It showed Mark Gordon going up a fire escape and then apparently trying to force a door of the building.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2024

Because maybe there’s a way to spy inside his studio undetected...yes, like from that fire escape in back, I think, spotting it.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson