An emergency lighting system comprises a control system, guide light devices, having multiple light members, guide light controllers, and signal devices. Each guide light controller is adapted to activate at least one guide light device operatively connected to the guide light controller to emit sequentially flashing light signals. Each signal device is adapted to selectively detect an emergency situation and transmit an emergency signal to the control system in response thereto, with each guide light controller being associated by the control system with one of the signal devices. The control system is adapted to transmit control signals in response to the emergency signals to selected ones of the guide light controllers, whereby the guide light controllers receiving emergency signals activate the guide light devices to emit sequentially flashing light signals in one of either two directions with the direction of flashing being controlled by the control signals.