A senior firefighter has urged people living in high-rise buildings to make sure they have a fire escape plan.

London Fire Brigade’s borough commander for Barnet, Steve Leader, gave the advice as part of the brigade’s Know the Plan campaign, which aims to inform people living in flats on what to do in a fire.

There were a total of 14 fires in flats in Barnet last year.

Mr Leader said: “Living in a flat is not more dangerous than living in a house, but it’s important to know that your fire plan should be different.

“Flats and maisonettes are built to give you some protection from fire – a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 60. Walls, floors and doors will hold back flames and smoke for a time.

“If there is a fire elsewhere in the building but not inside your home you're usually safer staying in your flat unless heat or smoke is affecting you.”

A survey found that only 40 per cent of London’s high-rise households - around 510,000 - have a fire escape plan.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.knowtheplan.co.uk