Last night, at around 7pm, millions across England and Wales received an emergency alert from the UK government relating to the current ‘high risk of wildfires’.

The ‘Severe Alert’ urged people to avoid any activity which could result in a fire – such as lighting a barbecue, starting a campfire, or setting off fireworks.

It comes after a number of homes in Stourbridge in the West Midlands burned down due to a wildfire on Thursday, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham warning that Britain may not see rain till October.

Deputy Prime Minister Louise Haigh said it was the most extensive use of the emergency alert system to date.

However, a number of Brits have shared online that they did not receive the warning, which triggers a loud siren on your phone.

Why didn’t I get the emergency alert on my phone? 

There are a few reasons why you might not have received the emergency alert.

According to the government website, your phone must be switched on and be a ‘compatible’ device.

This means it needs to be connected to a 4G or 5G network and have the latest software updates installed.

Older phones still connected to 2G or 3G networks are classed as ‘incompatible’.

You may have also missed the alert if your phone was on airplane mode.

It’s hard to estimate exactly how many people are still connected to older networks, and therefore will not have received the alert.

However, Ofcom has previously estimated that around five million Brits still use older connectivity.

What exactly did the emergency warning say?

For anyone who didn’t see the alert, here’s what it said:

‘There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.

‘Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.

‘Follow official updates and report signs of fire immediately by calling 999. Search gov.uk/alerts for more information.

Can you have a BBQ in your garden? 

While the emergency alert strongly advices against anyone starting a barbecue, there is currently no legal consequence for doing so.

However, the government issued a temporary ban on the sales of disposable barbecue, stating they pose a ‘significant risk to the public, and the environment’ and therefore cannot be considered a ‘safe product’.

There hasn’t been any indication that the government will introduce a nationwide law explicitly barring the use of barbecues on private property. Instead, they are just being heavily discouraged.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Chorley, Burnham stressed just how serious the situation has become, stating: ‘Setting a fire in any outdoor setting of any kind is a risk to other people’s homes, it’s a risk to other people’s lives, don’t do it, please don’t do it’.

Are disposable BBQs still for sale? 

Despite the temporary ban, some users on social media have reported still seeing disposable barbecues on store shelves.

Corner shops in particular have been mentioned in a few different posts on X, while others have pointed out that Amazon is still listing dozens of disposable barbecues.

A stand displaying large bags of charcoal was also spotted in an Essex branch of Sainsbury’s this morning.

While not currently banned, and other supermarkets also still selling fuel for controlled use of garden grills, it’s definitely an interesting marketing choice.

Can I do anything to safeguard my home?

According to Richard Barker, a horticultural expert at LBS Horticulture, there are several ways you can prepare your garden in advance to help reduce the risk of wildfire damage.

He tells that it’s important to remove anything that could be ‘fuel’ for a wildfire – and that includes an unkempt lawn.

He also advised to audit garden sheds for risks, such as flammable liquids, create fire breaks where possible and remove anything mirrored in your garden that could be create reflective heat.

You can read more of Richard’s advice here.

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