Abstract: There is disclosed herein a fire escape for the lowering of a plurality of escapees to the ground. Included in the present structure is a shaft, a spool journalled upon the shaft, a cable having a first and second end, the first end secured to the journal of the spool, in which the cable has a length generally equal to the distance of the spool above the ground. Also provided are body securement means affixed to the second end of the cable for use by the escapee. Further provided is a flywheel which is rotationally coupled to the spool; the flywheel constitutes a means for acquiring and storing angular momentum developed therein during descent of the cable to the ground. Also included in the present inventive fire escape are means for rotationally transferring the angular momentum from the flywheel back to the spool to thereby effectuate the rewinding of the cable so that the body securement means can thereby be used by the next escapee. Further provided are descent and ascent angular velocity limit means.