Abstract: An emergency cable descent system for lowering a person from a building in an emergency situation. The system includes a boom which may be pivoted outside a window of a building to support a cable away from an exterior of the building. The cable is contained upon a spool which rotates against a force of a friction brake to provide a constant rate of descent. The friction brake is actuated by a solenoid system to control the rate of descent according to the body weight of the person. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include both a mechanical siren for alerting other occupants of the building to a use of the system and a mechanical brake assembly which may be utilized to control the rate of descent in an absence of electrical power.