Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Show Us Your Fire Escape (Please)
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 22, 2016
Modified Jul 22, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 22, 2016
Modified Jul 22, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
(Photo by Sai Mokhtari)
I have never really delved into the world of Pinterest, which seems to me to be a place where people collect images of things they want but will never have, and call it "inspiration." Sad! But while searching for a photo of a fire escape recently, I came upon a fire escape Pinterest board, and hoo boy... do you even know what people do with their fire escapes? They turn them into lush verandas, resting spots, miniature porches, little oases of their own.
This goes beyond the romance of simply dangling one's feet off a fire escape on a hot summer day in the city—it's a full transformation, an extension of one's apartment, and it can be a real gamechanger here in the land of 400-sq-ft living spaces. F*ckin' Pinterest, man.
It's not at all legal to do these wonderful things to your fire escape, as they are meant to be kept clear in the event of, you know, a fire. FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer told us, "In short, no, plants and other items are not to permitted on fire escapes."
However, fire escapes are basically only decoration now anyway—last year, one FDNY rep declared: "Those fire escapes are going the way of the dinosaur," noting that fireproof interior stairwells are now the preferred addition for newer buildings.
These little metal ledges are something only New Yorkers could romanticize so much, and they have a long history here in the city (some people even used them as open-air bedrooms back in the day). So we want to celebrate them—have you done something magical with your fire escape? We'd like to see it. You can submit a photo to us at [email protected] (just let us know if you would like to remain anonymous).
N.B. Never go on Pinterest:
Tagged
call for photos
fire escape
fire escapes
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .