Today's Edition
LONDON (AGENCIES)
An emergency alert has been sent to millions of mobile phones across the UK warning of a serious wildfire risk.
The Government issued the alert at 7pm on Friday evening (August 14), across England and Wales, advising people to avoid any activity that could start a blaze.
Mobile users were told not to use barbecues, campfires, or fireworks, and to call 999 immediately if they spot a fire.
The message read: "There is a serious risk of fire across the nation''.It also warned that even a small flame could quickly escalate into a large wildfire, putting lives, property, and emergency services at risk.
The UK experienced its fifth summer heatwave as temperatures peaked at a provisional 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in west London, marking the hottest day of the year and the fifth-hottest day in the nation's recorded history, according to the Met Office.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urges the public to take a wildfire emergency alert "seriously''.
The alert warns against "any activity that could start a fire", saying there is a "very high risk of wildfires nationally".
It comes after nineteen houses have been "fully destroyed" in Stourbridge as crews continue to tackle multiple blazes in the West Midlands.
