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

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

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

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

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

Finally, we stop under an iron fire escape, gasping for air.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen