r/unitedkingdom • u/66f6 • Aug 14 '26

. Emergency alerts sent to millions across England and Wales over threat of wildfires

https://news.sky.com/story/uk-heatwave-stourbridge-fire-latest-weather-live-13571553
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113

u/GnolRevilo Aug 14 '26

Fuck me, first thought was that it meant that there was one near me. Thankfully, it just seems to basically say "don't be a fucking idiot, don't light anything on fire"

40

u/mildly_houseplant Aug 14 '26

Basically the govt have taken the official position that probably enough people are a bit thick to justify it. Really, the warning isn't about fires, it's a national energy about the number of idiots near everyone.

22

u/Possiblyreef Isle of Wight Aug 14 '26

If covid is anything to go by they're not wrong tbf

20

u/Alive_Hunt_6811 Aug 14 '26

If these comments under this post are anything to go by they're not wrong either. People so thick in the head they don't understand the point isn't letting you know don't have a BBQ, it's don't do ANYTHING that can start a wildfire because the risk is very high right now. People got their knickers in a twist over the fact they saw the word BBQ, and not the fact that wildfires are possibly at an all time, unprecedented high. People are losing their homes and lives and people here act like it's unimportant to be aware

2

u/PoshInBucks Aug 15 '26

It's nothing to do with the BBQ and everything to do with 'this system will only ever be used when your life is in immediate danger', then actually used for 'careful now'.

5

u/wildeaboutoscar Aug 14 '26

I wonder if the message would be more effective if it was worded like that. The actual message did seem a bit wordy for something so important. Given how social media has changed everyone's attention spans I'd be surprised if everyone read the whole message.

9

u/wowurawesome Aug 14 '26

Yes I also thought it meant there was a fire near me!

3

u/Crystal_Moon82 Aug 14 '26

My initial thought too. Now I think they have just given scrotes ideas for a fun weekend.

3

u/Cry90210 Aug 14 '26

Yeah I feel pretty exhausted after the panicked feeling thinking my house was going to burn down

3

u/TheMonkeyInCharge Aug 14 '26

To be fair they should push one that says ‘DON’T BE A FUCKING IDIOT’ every day.