Why is it usually safer to "stay put"?

Guidance to 'stay put' unless fire or smoke is affecting your flat is based on the fire protection provided by the building makeup. This has been the case for many decades and, although fires in flats occur throughout the country every day, the fire usually only affects the flat on fire.

Where concrete and fire doors are used to construct the homes, it creates a protective barrier against fire. They contain it and give fire and rescue services time to battle the blaze. Concrete has fire-resistant properties which means a slow transfer of heat and structural integrity for longer periods.

For firefighters to do their job safely and quickly, clear corridors and stairwells help massively.

If people can be kept safe from fire by the compartmentation of their dwellings, fire and rescue can focus efforts on extinguishing a fire without a need for mass panic inside a building.