One of the best pieces of advice I got early in my fire and emergency services career was to spend as much time as possible doing area familiarization; paying special attention to building construction features such as fire escapes.
I still take alternate routes to work and walk around alleys and through back streets whenever I get the chance.
I shudder whenever I look at the fire escapes in my city.
Very few have been properly maintained and many of them are visibly pulling away from the (old) buildings to which they are (barely) attached.
I know in some departments it’s a standard practice to use fire escapes, but, as this report suggests, it can be a very risky endeavor, especially if other access/egress options are available.
Regardless of your department’s SOPs, it’s always important to assess building construction and the risk-benefit profile of various tactical options during ongoing size-up.
