PEOPLE are being urged to ‘Get out – Stay out – Call 999’ if faced with a fire in their home or place of work.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service wants to make sure people are aware of the message, after giving the advice to schoolchildren as part of its education programme.

Sharon Jones, of the fire service’s community safety department, said: “We want to make people more aware that in the event of fire, the safest option is to evacuate, call for help and let specially trained personnel from the fire service and other emergency services take charge rather than attempting to tackle the fire yourself.”

Around a third of people who suffer injuries during a fire tried to tackle the blaze themselves.

She also reminded people to install a smoke alarm on every floor of their home and plan an escape route.