Don’t tackle fires yourself. Leave it to the professionals.

• Keep calm and act quickly, get everyone out as soon as possible.
• Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables.
• If there’s smoke, keep low where the air is clearer.
• Before you open a door check if it’s warm. If it is, don’t open it – fire is on the other side.
• Call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building. 999 calls are free.

• If you can’t get out, get everyone into one room, ideally with a window and a phone.
• Put bedding around the bottom of the door to block out the smoke, then open the window and call "HELP FIRE".
• If you’re on the ground or first floor, you may be able to escape through a window.
• Use bedding to cushion your fall and lower yourself down carefully. Don’t jump.

If you can’t open the window break the glass in the bottom corner. Make jagged edges safe with a towel or blanket.

• Avoid using lifts and balconies if there is a fire.
• It is easy to get confused in smoke, so count how many doors you need to go through to reach the stairs.
• Check there is nothing in the corridors or stairways that could catch fire – like boxes or rubbish.
• Make sure doors to stairways are not locked.
• Make sure everyone in the building knows where the fire alarms are.
• You should still get a smoke alarm for your own home, even if there is a warning system in the block.