Wildfire phone alert was 'entirely appropriate', government says
The alert reached millions of phones as fire services warned of an unprecedented wildfire risk and asked people to avoid barbecues and other ignition sources.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham authorized an emergency alert sent to millions across England and Wales on Thursday, the first national use of the system since its 2023 launch, warning of extreme wildfire risk.
- Some 1017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, equaling last year's record total, while the Met Office warns dry conditions could persist until September.
- After devastating wildfires destroyed 19 houses in the West Midlands on Thursday, Burnham deployed 100 military personnel to South Wales to provide critically needed support to firefighting teams.
- Conservative shadow Northern Ireland secretary Alex Burghart criticized the alert as risking "future misuse of the system," while a Government source defended it as a response to "unprecedented level of risk."
- Later on Friday, the Government appointed Baroness Blake of Leeds as fire minister within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as more than 1.8 million homes remain in vulnerable zones.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Youths 'start fire' less than 24 hours after government wildfire warning hit phones
Police are appealing for information after a group of youths reportedly started a fire at a golf course less than a day after a nationwide wildfire warning was sent to mobile phones across the UK.
Downing Street Insists Triggering Mobile Alert Was "Entirely Appropriate"
Number 10 is doubling down on the decision to activate its emergency alert system across millions of Brits’ phones on Friday evening. The PM’s spokesman insisted today that the threat of wildfires was an “emergency situation“, and “it was an entirely appropriate use of the system”. Those confused by their phone’s screams on a quiet…
Reform’s Danny Kruger slams ‘absolute abuse’ of emergency alert system after millions sent warnings
Reform’s Danny Kruger slams ‘absolute abuse’ of emergency alert system after millions sent warnings . Danny Kruger has slammed the “absolute abuse” of the UK’s emergency alert system after millions received blaring warnings on Friday
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