London, August 15, 2026 — The Europe Today: The UK government has issued an emergency alert to millions of mobile phone users across England and Wales, warning of a serious risk of wildfires amid a period of extreme heat.
The alert was issued at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 14, advising the public to avoid any activities that could potentially start a fire.
Authorities specifically urged people not to use barbecues, campfires or fireworks and instructed anyone who spots a fire to call emergency services immediately.
The emergency message warned that there was a serious risk of fire across the country and that even a small flame could rapidly develop into a major wildfire, placing lives, property and emergency responders at risk.
The warning comes as the UK experiences its fifth summer heatwave, with provisional temperatures reaching 38.1 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens in west London. According to the Met Office, this was the hottest day of the year and the fifth-hottest day recorded in the country’s history.
The alert follows a series of wildfires across parts of the country. In Stourbridge, 19 homes have reportedly been completely destroyed as emergency crews continue efforts to contain multiple fires in the West Midlands.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to take the emergency warning seriously and exercise extreme caution to prevent further outbreaks.
Authorities stressed that the very high national wildfire risk requires the public to avoid any activity capable of generating flames or sparks until conditions improve.
