Overview
- On Friday evening millions of compatible phones in England and Wales received a loud ‘severe’ Emergency Alert telling people not to use barbecues, campfires or fireworks and the Cabinet Office called it the most extensive operational use of the system.
- Officials said the decision was made after frontline fire and rescue services asked for broader coverage while crews responded to dozens of fires and multiple declared major incidents.
- The sudden siren‑style notification startled many recipients, caused reports of near‑misses and a surge in 999 calls, and prompted a large number of people to seek instructions on how to disable emergency alerts.
- Domestic‑abuse charities warned the unannounced alarm risked exposing hidden phones used by survivors, and opposition politicians demanded transparency about who authorised the alert and clearer thresholds for future use.
- The episode comes as teams battle an unusually high number of wildfires this summer, with ministers deploying military support and banning disposable barbecues while campaigners and fire unions call for more funding and clearer alert protocols.