Confusion broke out across England and Wales tonight as millions received an emergency wildfire alert.
The alert was sent to mobile phones across the country at 7pm today warning against lighting anything that could spark a wildfire, including barbecues, campfires and fireworks.
It is the largest ever use of the technology since the emergency alert system was introduced in 2023.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told members of the public to take the warning ‘seriously’, and said it was triggered at the request of firefighters.
He wrote on X: ‘This evening, an Emergency Alert has been sent to people across England and Wales as the wildfire risk remains very high. The request came directly from Fire and Rescue Services.
‘I was in Stourbridge today and saw first-hand the devastating impact these fires have had on people’s homes and lives. Our priority now is to keep everyone safe and prevent more fires from starting.
‘Our firefighters and emergency responders are working around the clock in incredibly difficult conditions. We can all help them. Please take the Emergency Alert seriously and follow the guidance in place.’
The emergency alert warned that even small flames could ‘rapidly develop into a major wildfire’.
The alert interrupted BBC1’s The One Show as the alarm sounded at the beginning of the programme.
Millions of people received this alert tonight as people were warned not to light anything that could spark a fire
The alert interrupted BBC1’s The One Show as the alert sounded throughout the programme
Host Alex Jones, who clearly did not know the alarm would be issued, said: ‘You couldn’t make that up could you.
‘I think that’s the fire alarm…I’m doing my best to keep a straight face.’
Panic erupted in a Wetherspoons pub in Wales after English drinkers received the Government Alert about the risk of wildfires in Welsh and couldn’t read it.
Richard Williams, 77, was enjoying a pint with his wife in The Picture House in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, where just 18 per cent of the country’s population speak Welsh.
A minuscule 0.2 per cent of the Welsh population speak no English at all.
English drinkers in the pub couldn’t read the announcement and pandemonium ensued as drinkers desperately attempted to find Welsh speakers to translate it for them.
Richard, a retired photographer, said: ‘People were relaxing on a Friday night in Wetherspoons when all of a sudden all hell broke loose.
‘Every phone in the pub omitted an almighty beep as the government alert landed – but no one in the pub had a clue what it meant as it was in Welsh.
‘We all knew it was a serious warning, but about what? A natural disaster? A terrorist attack?
‘People started running around in panic, in a desperate bid to find a Welsh speaker to translate the message.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham (centre) walks with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker (right) as he talks to Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill (left) during a visit to Stourbridge this afternoon
Around 100 firefighters tackled the inferno which broke out near Stourbridge golf course
‘Eventually, after about ten minutes, the English version arrived, but it felt a very long time.
‘A lot of people in the pub are holidaymakers and so were doubly confused.
‘Why not have it in both Welsh and English?
‘It makes absolutely no sense. My wife and I are English but spend a lot of time in Wales.
‘We speak a little Welsh, but not enough to understand the message.
‘It caused a lot of needless panic.’
Social media users came out in droves to share their confusion as the alarm sounded this evening.
Even if a mobile phone was set to silent, the alarm would make a loud noise.
Smoke continues to rise from Stourbridge this morning after the devastating wildfires
The blaze in Stourbridge forced some people to flee after it started tearing through homes
One X user said: ‘I almost knocked my drink down… About five phone went off simultaneously.’
Another wrote: ‘They just used the nuclear warfare alarm over a barbecue.’
A third shared: ‘Mate that alarm man, thought my phone was going to explode’.
One X user said: ‘Thanks government. I really needed three panic alarm alerts telling me not to have a f***** BBQ.’
Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh, the First Secretary of State, said: ‘In response to the continued risk proposed by wildfires, the Government has taken the decision to issue an emergency alert to England and Wales.
‘This is the most extensive use of the UK’s emergency alert system in response to an active incident, and reflects the seriousness with which the Government is acting to safeguard people and property.
‘During this period of extreme heat, we are asking people to take simple steps to limit the risk of further fires.
An aerial view of the remains of a home on Brunswick Gate in Stourbridge this morning
‘By following the safety guidance, everyone can play their part in protecting local communities and supporting our frontline services who are working around the clock to keep people safe.’
‘The Government will continue to provide every assistance to communities being impacted by these fires, including the deployment of 100 additional military personnel in major incident areas.’
Angela Rayner, the Communities Secretary, said: ‘As well as supporting firefighters on the ground now, my department will hold a summit bringing together fire chiefs, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council, the Fire Brigades Union and other key organisations to look at our future response.
‘To the residents affected, particularly those who lost their homes and their life’s possessions to fire – we will work with the mayor and local leaders to make sure you are supported.’
Mr Burnham had earlier visited Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where a wildfire destroyed 19 homes on Thursday, the hottest day of the year so far.
The Stourbridge blaze spread across more than 500 acres, with the West Midlands Fire Service summoned to ‘hundreds and hundreds of incidents’ throughout its patch, according to the area’s chief fire officer Simon Tuhill.
Fire chiefs were investigating whether A-level students lighting barbecues to celebrate their results started a wildfire that destroyed six homes on a millionaires’ row.
The government today called in the army and banned disposable barbecues to help tackle wildfires as ‘tinderbox’ Britain continued to swelter in a heatwave today.
Paramedics treated 54 people in the West Midlands, with 19 admitted to hospital, after several wildfires broke out yesterday during Britain’s fifth warmest day on record.
Charred land and burnt houses this morning following the huge wildfire in Stourbridge
Emergency services are looking into reports that the fires could be linked to Year 13 students lighting barbecues and burning notepads after receiving their exam scores.
A TikTok craze sees some youngsters film themselves lighting up paperwork, with fire investigators now considering whether the activity could have caused the chaos.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed the rumours were shared with fire crews, who have so far found no direct evidence to support the theory but remain open-minded.
Mr Burnham told reporters in Stourbridge this afternoon: ‘Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind. We’re going to go into the rest of the weekend… This is not over by any means. We’ve got 37 fires smouldering around the country, so it could be more. So please bear that in mind at all times.’
Around 100 firefighters were tackling the inferno which broke out near Stourbridge Golf Course, obliterating 40 acres of land. Golfers are said to have fled in their carts.
Residents said ash was ‘raining down’ amid the ‘very strong’ smoke.
Elsewhere, a train derailment in Sussex on a Southern service near Lewes that saw 150 people evacuated and two seriously hurt may also have been a result of the heat.
Another train derailed on the Greater Anglia network near Wickford in Essex today, although no one on board the service from Southend Victoria to London was injured.
Extremely hot weather will continue in south-east England, East Anglia, Lincolnshire and the Midlands today with a high of 35.3C at Frittenden in Kent this afternoon. That made today the tenth day in 2026 where temperatures have reached at least 35C (95F).
Friday is provisionally a record-breaking tenth day in 2026 where temperatures have exceeded 35C (95F) or more, according to the Met Office.
Frittenden, near Ashford in Kent, was among the hottest places, where temperatures reached 35.3C.
Heat health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are in place until 10am on Saturday across London, the South East, the South West, the East of England, the East Midlands and the West Midlands.
This is a breaking news story.
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