Emergency alerts have been issued across England and Wales as record-matching wildfire activity prompts calls to restrict the use of disposable barbecues.

A national emergency alert was sent to mobile phones across England and Wales on Friday, warning of a very high risk of wildfires. The government-issued message urged residents and visitors to avoid activities that could spark fires, specifically citing disposable barbecues, firepits, and fireworks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the country as a "tinderbox" and confirmed that 37 fires were burning across the two nations, four of which were classified as major incidents.

Scale of Wildfire Activity

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council, 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales so far this year, matching the record set last year. Recent incidents include a blaze in the New Forest that lasted six days and multiple fires in Norfolk. In the West Midlands, fires destroyed dozens of homes, leading the West Midlands Ambulance Service to treat 54 casualties, with 19 people requiring hospital care.

Retail Restrictions and Policy

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham stated that retailers will receive guidance regarding a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, noting that some current wildfires were started by the devices. Many large retailers had already committed to voluntary sales suspensions under a 2023 framework agreed upon with the British Retail Consortium, which triggers when extreme heat events are declared or upon request from local councils.

Climate and Emergency Response

Burnham criticized the current capacity of fire and rescue services to handle the increasing frequency of these incidents, calling for a transition to clean energy to address climate change. Meanwhile, environmental group Friends of the Earth urged the government to address the root causes of the climate emergency, warning that future heatwaves and droughts will worsen without urgent action to curb carbon emissions.