Millions of people in England and Wales received an emergency alert on their phones on Friday evening, in an unusual move reflecting the scale of the fire risk. According to British authorities, the country is heading into a weekend with particularly hot and dry conditions, while the number of fire outbreaks has already surpassed last year’s figures.
National phone alert around 7:00 p.m.
The alert was activated at around 7:00 p.m. and was accompanied by a siren sound on mobile phones. The message urged residents to avoid any activity that could cause flames.
Authorities called on people not to use barbecues, not to light campfires or fireworks, and to avoid any other action that could increase the risk. If a fire outbreak is spotted, residents were asked to immediately call emergency services on 999.
Government describes it as the broadest use of the system
According to Deputy Prime Minister Louise Haigh, this is the broadest use so far of the British emergency alert system for an active incident. She presented the measure as a sign of the seriousness of the situation and as part of the government’s efforts to protect people and property.
However, activating this mechanism on such a wide scale shows that authorities are facing a situation that is not being managed only through the usual local response structures.
Fires have caused damage and injuries
The warning comes after a series of major fires in several areas of England and Wales. In Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, the flames have caused damage to homes and left people injured.
According to the official account, the country is facing a particularly difficult weekend because of the hot and dry weather, factors that significantly increase the possibility of fires spreading quickly.
Ban on disposable barbecues and army deployment
As part of the preventive measures, a temporary nationwide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues has also been announced. This measure will remain in force for as long as the fire risk is assessed to be high.
The situation is presented as more worrying in Wales, where the army has been deployed to support emergency services. Around 100 military personnel have been sent to the ground, while a similar number is expected to join teams for water supply and logistical support.
This year’s total has surpassed 2025
Figures show that fires this year have already exceeded the total recorded during 2025. More than 1,017 fires have been reported in England and Wales.
In a 24-hour period alone, fire services reported 11 major incidents, underlining the scale of the pressure on emergency capacity.
The scale of the alert and the measures announced show that British authorities are trying to prevent a rapid worsening of the situation on the ground.
With high temperatures and dried-out terrain, every new fire outbreak could turn into a major emergency within a matter of hours.