a telescoping , extensible fire escape chute is mounted on a vehicle carrying a telescoping boom having a passenger basket mounted at an upper end . the fire escape chute is formed of a plurality of telescoping sections which automatically extend and retract upon extension or retraction of the telescoping boom . in one embodiment , support cables under variable tension are attached to the sides of the chute to prevent sideways tipping of the chute during use . in another embodiment , pins and wedges are used with selected chute and boom sections to securely mount the chute to the boom as the boom is extended . in yet another embodiment , a scissor - action locking bolt with extensible and retractable links is used to releasably connect selected chute sections to the boom . a deflatable cushion is mountable on the vehicle below the lower end of the chute and includes a plurality of vertically stacked inflatable members which , during deflation when a person or object strikes the cushion , gradually slow movement of the person or object in a controlled manner .