The Importance of a Clutter-Free Fire Escape

In the event of an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is moving chairs, piles of clothing, or outdoor decorations out of the way.

Fire escapes are often romanticized in movies, TV shows, and magazines (West Side Story, Pretty Woman, and Panic Room- to name a few). In these scenes we see people use their fire escape as a place to read books, play music, dry clothes, and many other things that are not their intended purpose. 

People tend to not see the value of their fire escape as a means of egress in the event of an emergency until the time comes that it is needed for its intended purpose. If you have to get out of your space in the event of a fire, you should be able to get onto your fire escape and make it down the stairs without having to stop and move things out of your way when seconds count. 

While space can be tight in apartment or office buildings, we recommend that you keep your fire escapes clear of your belongings, for your safety, and for the safety of everyone around you.