A NEW hard-hitting campaign has been launched to encourage householders to make plans to escape if fire breaks out in their home.

The initiative comes after it was revealed that 13 people were killed in Lancashire last year as a result of fires in their homes.

And, according to figures from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, the number this year already stands at 14, while many more are injured each week.

The campaign, entitled "Make your plan. Get out alive", aims to encourage all occupiers to consider how they would escape from a fire by developing a Fire Action Plan which includes identifying a number of escape routes, installing a smoke alarm, making sure all in the household know where keys to locked doors are kept, keeping internal doors closed and regularly conducting your own fire drill.

Lancashire's chief fire officer Peter Holland said: "Many deaths and injuries from domestic property fires could be prevented by taking some basic precautions.

"When a fire breaks out in your home you only have a few minutes to get out alive.

"Making a Fire Action Plan with your family and ensuring everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire could give you the extra few minutes needed to get out safely."