Millions of people across the country received a 'severe alert' from the government on Friday night. The alert, sent at around 7pm, warned recipients not to use barbecues, campfires, and fireworks, and urged them to report fires immediately to 999.
Wildfire in Stourbridge destroys 19 homes
The alert follows the outbreak of several major blazes, including a wildfire in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, where 19 homes were completely destroyed.
History of the alert system
The idea for an alert system was originally developed in the Netherlands during the early 2000s, but the United States was the first to adopt it nationwide in 2012 with its Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.
The system is used to warn Brits if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather. Since launching, it was used during Storm Éowyn, as well as when approximately 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England received an alert during Storm Darragh in December 2024.
Previous tests of the system
The system has previously been tested, including in September 2025.
