Brits urged to take one counterintuitive action when trapped by wildfire

People caught in UK wildfires have been urged to do one thing by the British Red Cross. Consecutive heatwaves and drought conditions have caused a record number wildfires to break out across the country in recent weeks.

In new survival guidance published on its website, the Red Cross warned that people should not attempt to outrun a blaze, but, if there is no body of water nearby, bury themselves in soil. The charity said those trapped by flames should ideally "head for a body of water" and safely enter it.

But if this option is not available, Brits are advised to "look for shelter in a cleared area among a bed of rocks, lie flat, face down and cover their bodies with soil, breathing air close to the ground".

The guidance added: "If you are advised to evacuate, or if you think you are in danger, evacuate immediately. Don't wait to be told to evacuate.

"A wildfire may spread too fast for officials to issue evacuation orders. If you are not trained and equipped to fight a wildfire, do not put your life at risk. Leave right away: delay could be deadly."

It comes as firefighters continue to tackle ongoing blazes across the UK, with 19 homes in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, destroyed last Thursday, the hottest day of the year so far.

Millions were warned not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, including BBQs and garden incinerators, in "the most extensive use" of the UK's mobile phone alert system on Friday.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told members of the public to take the warning "seriously" and said it was triggered at the request of firefighters.

Visiting Stourbridge, where a blaze has spread across more than 500 acres, Mr Burnham described Britain as "a tinderbox".