Abstract: An emergency escape device for buildings in accordance with the present invention comprises a rotatably supported axle, a reel mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a string wound around the axle and having a first end securely attached to the axle and a second end, a weight means securely attached to the second end of the string, a cable wound around the reel and having a free end, the cable having a winding direction opposite to that of the string, a basket securely attached to the free end of the cable and having a weight smaller than that of the weight means, a hydraulic pump including a fluid path and an output shaft, a control valve mounted to the fluid path for controlling opening and closing of the fluid path to thereby control rotational movement of the output shaft, a transmission member for transmitting rotational movement of the output shaft to the axle, a rod mounted to the control valve for actuating the control valve, and a pull string having an end attached to the rod and a second end loca