MILLIONS of people across England and Wales have received an emergency alert on their phones, warning them against lighting anything that could spark a fire, the Cabinet Office has said.
The Government sent the alert on Friday evening, which began appearing on mobile devices from 7pm.
It warned people not to use barbecues, campfires, and fireworks, and recipients have also been urged to report fires immediately to 999.
The alert follows the outbreak of several major blazes, including a wildfire in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, where 19 homes were completely destroyed.
See the emergency wildfire alert sent to millions across the UK
The use of the emergency alert to warn about wildfires is the most extensive use of the system to date, the UK Government said.
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh 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. 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.”
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner added: “It is awful to see the devastation fires have caused across the country. I’m very grateful to all the first responders working so hard to keep people safe. A number of firefighters were taken to hospital as a result of incidents yesterday and I pay tribute to their bravery and commitment.
“As the Prime Minister said, we will do everything to make sure our fire services have the resources they need from us and our support to deal with the unprecedented risks being driven by this heatwave.
"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.”
What is the latest on wildfires in Scotland?
A wildfire warning expired on Thursday, which had covered the eastern Highlands, eastern and southern Scotland.
SFRS’s head of operational delivery and SWF chair, deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour, had said: “It’s extremely important members of the public exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame during a wildfire warning.
“These fires place a huge drain on our resources and pose a threat to the safety of our firefighters and members of our communities."
