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UK issues Severe emergency alert over national wildfire risk

newsAug 15, 2026811,217

The UK government sent a nationwide Severe Alert through its new Emergency Alerts system warning of a very high wildfire risk and advising people not to use disposable barbecues or light fireworks. NASA satellites detected nearly 600 UK wildfires, and ministers have temporarily banned disposable barbecues as the country faces widespread fire activity. Emergency Alerts is a BETA service being trialled; alerts are sent based on recipients' current location and will include a phone number or a GOV.UK link with further instructions. The service will send messages in English and in Wales may also send them in Welsh, and it will not ask for personal details or send emails. Guidance on how to check whether an alert is genuine and details of past alerts are published on GOV.UK. When an alert arrives, recipients are instructed to stop what they are doing and follow the message, and not to read or respond while driving unless they can stop somewhere safe. The government says feedback from this trial will be used to improve the Emergency Alerts service.

Abigail Nussbaum
@abigailnussbaum.bsky.social

Dear UK government: emergency alerts are for things that are going to kill people imminently unless they take immediate action. They are not for warning against barbecues. You have an entire state and commercial media apparatus with which to disperse the second, non-emergency sort of message.

An emergency alert warning of wildfire risk, ie not an emergency
11713h ago
Matt Round
@mattround.com

Surely a severe alert would be “there’s a fire near you, you might need to evacuate”, not “be a bit careful about burning stuff”

Severe Alert
Issued by the UK Government
There is a very high risk of
wildfires nationally. Residents,
landowners and visitors should not
undertake any activity that could
start a fire, including disposable
barbecues, firepits, garden
incinerators or fireworks. Even a
small flame can rapidly develop
into a major wildfire placing lives,
homes, businesses and
emergency responders at risk.
Follow official updates and report
signs of fire immediately by calling
999. Search gov.uk/alerts for more
information.
4913h ago
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